Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can reduce severity of fusariosis (Fusarium oxysporum) in cowpea plants (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)

Abstract

Mycorrhizal symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provides plants with high nutrient absorption and non-nutritional benefits such as resistance to diseases. Fusariosis (Fusarium oxysporum) affects cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) production, which is a common culture in household farms in the northeast region of Brazil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of native AMF from Maranhão Cerrado to provide resistance/non-nutritional benefits to cowpea plants infected with F. oxysporum f.sp. tracheiphilum. The bioassay was conducted using cowpea plants to assess their responses to different AMF species and F. oxysporum under controlled greenhouse conditions. Vegetative development of cowpeas (fresh and dry shoot and root mass, leaf number, and plant height) benefited from AMF symbiosis, especially with Claroideoglomus etunicatum and Acaulospora morrowiae. All AMF species reduced the severity score of the disease, confirming the potential use of mycorrhizal fungi species to reduce F. oxysporum damage in cowpea cultures.