Effects of biological agents on soil microbiology, enzyme activity and fruit quality of kiwifruit with root rot
Yongli Ku
A # , Guoyi Xu B # , Shaoxin Su C and Cuiling Cao D *
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, People’s Republic of China.
B Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450000, People’s Republic of China.
C College of Foreign Language, Shangqiu University, Shangqiu 476000, People’s Republic of China.
D College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, People’s Republic of China.
* Correspondence to: cuilingcao@163.com
# These authors contributed equally to this paper
Handling Editor: Samuel Abiven
Soil Research 60(3) 279-293 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR20311
Submitted: 6 November 2020 Accepted: 30 August 2021 Published: 9 November 2021
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Context: Root rot is common for kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis var. diliciosa) plants. It is not easily controlled by chemical methods, and biological agents are an alternative.
Aims: This study investigated the effects of biological agents on the activity and diversity of soil microorganisms, soil enzyme activity and physicochemical indices during the growth period of kiwifruit plants.
Methods: There were four treatments: (1) root-rot plants applied with traditional fertiliser (RP); (2) root-rot plants applied with biological agents CY (CY); (3) root-rot plants applied with biological agents CL (CL); and (4) healthy plants with traditional fertiliser (HP). Most samples were taken during the growth period of kiwifruit plants, while activities of defensive-related enzymes and quality of kiwifruits were tested in the fructescence period.
Key results: CY and CL treatments significantly improved microbial activity, changed microbial structure, increased the diversity, richness and uniformity of microbial species, and altered the relative utilisation ratio of six carbon sources. Soil nutrients of kiwifruit plants with root rot improved with CY and CL compared to RP. Health of kiwifruit plants with CY and CL also improved compared to RP. Activities of defensive-related enzymes in CY and CL treatments were significantly higher than in RP treatment (P < 0.05). Fruit quality indices were also higher than RP.
Conclusions: CY and CL changed the microbial communities in soil, and improved soil nutrients and plant health.
Implications: By altering the soil microbial structure, biological agents used to control root rot in kiwifruit plants improved tree health and fruit quality, and provide an alternative to chemical control of root rot.
Keywords: biological agents, defensive-related enzymes, fruit quality, microbial community diversity, root-rot plants, soil available nutrients content, soil enzyme activity.
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