A Bjerkandera adust new strain as a potential biocontrol agent against wheat scab

Bjerkandera adusta can decompose polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons including cellulose and lignin, but its roles in inhibiting plant pathogens are unclear. Here, the confrontation culture and greenhouse pot experiments were employed to study the control effect of B. adusta M1 on Fusarium graminearum and wheat scab. The results showed that B. adusta M1 fermentation broth (FB) inhibited the growth of F. graminearum, with an inhibition rate of 52.7-89.17%. FB had a significant control effect (72.14 ± 1.42%) on wheat scab, which was slightly lower than that of the chemical fungicide carbendazim (77.34 ± 1.76%). The growth rate was significantly higher in B. adusta M1 than in F. graminearum, indicating a strong competitiveness by B. adusta M1. The images from a scanning electron microscope showed substantial deformations of the hyphae of F. graminearum being penetrated by the hyphae of B. adusta M1, indicating a strong mycoparasitism by B. adusta M1. In addition, FB increased the activity of catalase, peroxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase in wheat leaves related to disease resistance and decreased the malondialdehyde production and cell membrane permeability. We conclude that B. adusta M1 is a promising fungal agent to control the detriment of F. graminearum to cereal growth in the field.