Effect of metabolites of Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma viride on development and structure of radicle of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) seedlings

• Published in: Plant and soil 1988-02, Vol.106 (2), p.285-288
• Main Authors: ODAMTTEN, G.T., CLERK, G.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Aspergillus niger; Biological and medical sciences; Biological control; Cacao; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; Cocoa; Control; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungal plant pathogens; Fungi; Metabolites; Microbial ecology; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Plants; Seedling culture; Seedlings; Short communications; Soil; Soil science; Trichoderma; Xylem vessels
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02371226

Both the volume and concentration of filtrate of Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma viride influenced the development of the radicles of cocoa seedlings. Radicles placed in Petri dishes containing filter paper moistened with 20 and 30 ml of undiluted filtrate and filtrate dilutions of 1:1 and 1:2 failed to develop lateral roots and eventually died. The culture filtrate of A. niger was more repressive. Radicles in the same volume of filtrate (20 and 30ml) of higher dilutions (1:5 and 1:10) developed lateral roots and survived. Radicles placed in less volume (≤ 10 ml) survived and produced lateral roots irrespective of concentration of filtrates. Development of the radicles and roots in the control was consistently better (P = 0.05) than in filtrate solutions of either A. niger or T. viride. The hypocotyls of seedlings under the influence of metabolites of A niger showed greater cambial activity and formed xylem vessels and tracheids with larger lumina.