Bio-fertilizers and Systemic Acquired Resistance in Fusarium Infected Wheat

Bio-fertilizers have been introduced as an alternative to chemical fertilizers for plant growth and health. The objective of this pot culture experiment was to evaluate the effects of three Bio-fertilizers in single and mixed form containing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus intraradices), N+V on growth, yield components, and expression of some defense response genes in wheat infected with Fusarium oxysporum. Real time PCR was performed to determine the gene expression levels of beta-1,3-glucanase, Oxalate Oxidase, and Chitinase genes. The application of bio-fertilizers significantly increased all studied parameters, except spike length, in infected plants. The highest shoot dry weight was found in Nitroxin+ Vermicompost (N+V) treatment and the highest plant height, grain number, 100 grain weight, and biological yield was observed in treatment Mycorrhizal+ Vermicompost (M+V). The use of bio-fertilizer resulted in the highest expression level of beta-1,3-glucanase gene. The Chitinase gene showed the lowest expression level in all treatments. Our results indicate that vermicompost application could influence the improvement of mycorrhizal colonization and development of external hyphae.