Biocontrol Potential and Mitigation of Abiotic Stress Effects of Meyerozyma guilliermondii on Cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.)

Arancha Gomez-Garay (), Darío Bonaventura Roca-Campos, Sofía Irles Sánchez and Beatriz Pintos López
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Arancha Gomez-Garay: Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Darío Bonaventura Roca-Campos: Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Sofía Irles Sánchez: Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Beatriz Pintos López: Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: This study aims to evaluate the biocontrol potential of Meyerozyma guilliermondii (CECT13190), an endophytic yeast, and its role in mitigating the adverse effects of abiotic and biotic stress in cucumber plants. The relevance of this study lies in addressing the threat of Fusarium wilt, a major fungal disease that impacts cucumber crop productivity, as well as the exacerbation of food scarcity caused by climate change-induced abiotic stress factors such as high temperatures and drought. The study was conducted in a greenhouse environment where Cucumis sativus seedlings were exposed to biotic ( F. oxysporum inoculation) and abiotic stress conditions (heat and water deficit). The impact of M. guilliermondii on treated plants’ physiology, growth, development, and flowering was assessed. The study confirmed the biocontrol activity of M. guilliermondii against F. oxysporum and highlighted its positive effects as a plant growth promoter. It enhanced overall plant health, activated natural defense mechanisms against F. oxysporum , and alleviated the detrimental impacts of abiotic stress. Notably, M. guilliermondii also induced early flowering in cucumber plants. This research underscores the potential of M. guilliermondii as a biocontrol agent for managing Fusarium wilt, enhancing stress tolerance, promoting early flowering, and offering promising prospects for sustainable crop production amidst fungal diseases and climate change-induced stressors. The findings emphasize the importance of utilizing M. guilliermondii to improve cucumber crop productivity and address food scarcity challenges.

Keywords: biocontrol agent; Fusarium wilt; plant physiology; sustainable crop production; climatic change (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: 2024
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