MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Bio-stimulants for plant growth promotion and sustainable management of Rhizoctonia Solani causing black scurf of potato tubers

Summary

Researchers tested natural treatments called bio-stimulants to help potato plants fight black scurf disease caused by a fungus called Rhizoctonia solani. They found that combining mycorrhizal fungi with seaweed extract was the most effective at reducing disease and improving potato quality. These natural treatments can enhance plant growth and tuber yield while reducing the need for chemical fungicides, making them valuable for sustainable potato farming.

Background

Black scurf disease of potato tubers caused by Rhizoctonia solani results in serious yield losses and poor tuber quality. Bio-stimulants are natural substances that have achieved advances in sustainable agriculture but remain inconsistent under biotic stress. There is an urgent need for cost-effective and multifaceted approaches to phytopathogen control that integrate bio-stimulants.

Objective

This study evaluated the efficacy of compost, macroalgae, Trichoderma harzianum, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as individual bio-stimulants and their combinations in managing black scurf disease of potato plants. The objective was to determine whether these substances can enhance plant defense mechanisms against R. solani while maintaining essential quality parameters including starch content and enzyme activity.

Results

All bio-stimulant treatments significantly reduced disease severity and incidence compared to controls. The combination of mycorrhizae and macroalgae achieved the highest reduction in disease severity (83.46%) and incidence (78.6%). Individual treatments with T. harzianum and macroalgae reduced disease severity by 71.57% and 69.61% respectively. Bio-stimulant treatments enhanced plant growth, tuber yield, and quality parameters, with macroalgae treatments producing the highest starch and α-amylase content.

Conclusion

Bio-stimulants, particularly mycorrhizae and macroalgae combinations, offer sustainable approaches to managing black scurf disease in organic potato cultivation while enhancing plant health and tuber quality. These biologically-based strategies present a viable alternative to conventional fungicides for disease management. The synergistic effects of combined treatments highlight the potential for developing integrated disease management strategies in sustainable agriculture.
  • Published in:BMC Plant Biology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: 10.1186/s12870-025-07689-y; PMID: 41327026
Scroll to Top