EFFECT OF PHOSPHONATE ON THE RHIZOSPHERE MICROFLORA AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ROOT-ROT (PHYTOPHTHORA-CINNAMOMI) IN AVOCADO (PERSEA-AMERICANA) AND PEPPER-CORN (SCHINUS-MOLLE) TREE SEEDLINGS

Application to soil of 1 g (recommended rate) or 10 g l-1 of phosphonate did not affect the numbers of bacteria and fungi nor the proportions of actinomycetes and fungi antagonistic to Phytophthora cinnamomi. Foliar phosphonate applications to avocado seedlings (Persea americana) did not affect microbial numbers or the proportions of microbes in the rhizosphere capable of antagonizing P. cinnamomi. Mycelium of P. cinnamomi and zoospores of P. palmivora did not appear to respond to diffusates from excised roots of phosphonate-treated avocado and pepper-corn tree (Schinus molle) seedlings, respectively. However, less extensive lesions were observed on the roots of fungicide-treated avocado and pepper-corn tree seedlings exposed to P. cinnamomi and P. palmivora, respectively. The reduction in P. cinnamomi infection on pepper-corn tree seedlings appears to be brought about by additive rather than interactive effects of the resident soil microflora and foliar-applied phosphonate.