THE ACTION OF METHYL JASMONATE ON THE GROWTH OF FUSARIUM CULMORUM CAUSING ORGANISM OF FOOT AND ROOT ROT DISEASE IN WHEAT

Fusarium culmorum (W.G. Smith), one of the soil-borne fungal agents causing diseases in wheat, is difficult to control by chemical applications. Presowing seed treatments have been attracting attention as an alternative approach for controlling such pathogens. Methyl Jasmonate (MeJA) is one of the best-known priming agents in plants used against biotic and abiotic stressors. In the present study, seed priming with MeJA in three different concentrations (1mM, 0.1mM, and 0.01 mM) was examined for antifungal activity on the growth of F. culmorum in vitro and in vivo conditions. In the in vitro assay, direct effect on the mycelial growth of F. culmorum was determined on Potato Dextrose Agar. In vivo antifungal activity of MeJA was evaluated on the basis of disease response of durum wheat seedlings emerged from MeJA treated seeds sown artificially contaminated with F. culmorum under controlled conditions. The results in the study reveal that all concentrations of MeJA had no direct inhibition activity on F. culmorum mycelial growth. However, there was a considerable suppressive impact on the pathogen growth on wheat seedlings treated with 1 mM MeJA whereas there was no protection obtained from other concentrations.