Suppression of Rhizoctonia root-rot of tomato by Glomus mossae BEG12 and Pseudomonas fluorescens A6RI is associated with their effect on the pathogen growth and on the root morphogenesis

Rhizoctonia solani root-rot is a major soilborne disease causing growth and yield depression. The ability of Glomus mosseae BEG12 and Pseudomonas fluorescens A6RI to suppress this soilborne disease in tomato was assessed by comparing the shoot and root growth of plants infested with R. solani 1556 when protected or not by these beneficial strains. The epiphytic and parasitic growth of the pathogenic R. solani 1556 was compared in the presence and absence of the biocontrol agents by microscopical observations allowing the quantification of roots with hyphae appressed to epidermal cells (epiphytic growth) and of roots with intraradical infection (parasitic growth). The root architecture of the tomato plants under the different experimental conditions was further characterized by measuring total root length, mean root diameter, number of root tips and by calculating degree of root branching. G. mosseae BEG12 and P. fluorescens A6RI fully overcame the growth depression caused by R. solani 1556. This disease suppression was associated with a significant decrease of the epiphytic and parasitic growth of the pathogen together with an increase of root length and of the number of root tips of inoculated tomato plants. The combined effects of G. mosseae BEG12 and P. fluorescens A6RI on pathogen growth and on root morphogenesis are suggested to be involved in the efficient disease suppression.