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Persistent fungal root endophytes isolated from a wild barley species suppress seed-borne infections in a barley cultivar

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Abstract

Ten fungal root endophytes were isolated from wild populations of Hordeum murinum ssp. murinum L. and inoculated onto untreated seeds of a barley cultivar using five artificial and one soil-based growth media. A co-inoculant of all ten isolates as well as two individual isolates successfully suppressed the development of seed-borne fungal infections on germinated and ungerminated seed. The two most successful isolates were also the most persistent as re-emergents and may provide real potential for development as crop inoculants. All isolates were more persistent in barley exposed to light after germination. The soil-based compost was associated with the greatest degree of seed-borne infection suppression, and the most successful artificial medium for suppressing seed-borne infections was also the medium with the most similar pH to the soil at the sampling sites. These results suggest a direct antagonistic effect of the fungal isolates on seed-borne pathogens without the induction of plant defences.

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Acknowledgments

We thank: Goldcrop Seeds, Cork, Ireland for the generous supply of barley seeds, and for advice on suitable cultivars to use; Helena Murphy for proof reading and the de-cluttering of technical terms; laboratory technicians at Trinity College Dublin for providing supplies and technical support. Trinity College Dublin provided financial support through a PhD studentship grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Natural Sciences & Trinity Centre for Biodiversity Research, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Brian R. Murphy & Trevor R. Hodkinson

  2. UCD Earth Institute and School of Biology & Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Fiona M. Doohan

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  1. Brian R. Murphy
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  2. Fiona M. Doohan
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  3. Trevor R. Hodkinson
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Correspondence to Brian R. Murphy.

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Handling Editor: Fouad Daayf.

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Murphy, B.R., Doohan, F.M. & Hodkinson, T.R. Persistent fungal root endophytes isolated from a wild barley species suppress seed-borne infections in a barley cultivar. BioControl 60, 281–292 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-014-9642-3

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