Metarhizium Associated with Coffee Seedling Roots: Positive Effects on Plant Growth and Protection against Leucoptera coffeella

Mayara L. Franzin, Camila C. Moreira, Leila N. P. da Silva, Elem F. Martins, Marcos A. M. Fadini, Angelo Pallini, Simon L. Elliot and Madelaine Venzon ()
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Mayara L. Franzin: Department of Entomology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Camila C. Moreira: Department of Entomology and Acarology, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, São Paulo, Brazil
Leila N. P. da Silva: Department of Entomology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Elem F. Martins: Department of Entomology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Marcos A. M. Fadini: Department of Agriculture Science, Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Sete Lagoas 35701-970, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Angelo Pallini: Department of Entomology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Simon L. Elliot: Department of Entomology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Madelaine Venzon: Agriculture and Livestock Research Enterprise of Minas Gerais (EPAMIG), Viçosa 36570-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: Metarhizium species can be mutualistic symbionts of plants. They are able to colonize roots, promote plant growth and provide protection against pests. We previously found Metarhizium robertsii and M. brunneum associated with coffee roots in a diversified coffee system. Here, we investigated whether these fungi, when inoculated in coffee seedlings, can associate with roots, improve seedling growth and indirectly protect against the coffee leaf miner (CLM) Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae). We performed a greenhouse experiment with coffee seedlings using suspensions of each Metarhizium species applied as soil drenches to potted seedlings. We also challenged these plants with CLM infestation (two adult couples per plant). We recovered Metarhizium spp. from most of the seedling roots 43 days after fungal inoculation. Plants inoculated with M. robertsii showed a 30% leaf area increase compared to the control. Both isolates promoted protection against CLM in coffee seedlings, reducing the percentual of leaf area mined and prolonging CLM development time by two days versus controls. Besides this protection provided by Metarhizium , M. robertsii also improves seedling growth. Therefore, these Metarhizium species could be considered for the development of inoculants for coffee seedlings.

Keywords: endophytes; coffee leaf miner; Metarhizium robertsii; Metarhizium brunneum; plant growth promotion; plant protection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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