Award details

Nutrient regulation of the saprotroph to parasite transition in Pochonia chlamydopsoria, a soil microbial inoculant for nematode control

Reference	BBS/E/C/00004922
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Penny Hirsch
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	94,371
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/02/2008
End date	31/03/2011
Duration	38 months

Abstract

The nematophagous fungus, Pochonia chlamydosporia is a facultative parasite that has been developed through collaborative research between Rothamsted and the Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria, Havana, Cuba, as the biocontrol agent Klamic (R) against root-knot nematodes in tropical soils. The abundance of this fungus in soil is not necessarily related to its effectiveness as a biological control agent and its parasitic activity against nematode eggs is related to its nutrition and physiological state. However, to enhance the establishment of microbes applied to soil they should be added with a nutrient source to overcome competition from the resident microflora. This project aims to develop an understanding of the role of nutrition in the switch from the saprotrophic to the parasitic phase of P. chlamydosporia. It is in collaboration with the University of Nairobi and will be particularly relevant to nematode control in East African farming systems. The following hypotheses will be tested: 1. The availability of readily accessible nutrients maintains P. chlamydosporia in the saprophytic phase and prevents transition to the parasitic phase, which results in decreased biological control efficacy. 2. Expression of the VCP1 gene for a key serine protease in the infection of nematodes is regulated by changes in nutrient availability and the enzyme is a useful indicator of the switch in trophic states. 3. Egg-laying female root-knot nematodes alter root exudation which triggers P. chlamydosporia to switch trophic phases in the rhizosphere and induces parasitism of nematode eggs. 4. Soil amendments used to improve organic matter levels in soil and increase nematode control in Kenyan soils may reduce the efficacy of P. chlamydosporia as a biological control agent. Such information will be used to improve the performance of the fungus in a range of soil conditions.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	Crop Science, Microbiology, Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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