Organic amendments to avocado crops induce suppressiveness and influence the composition and activity of soil microbial communities.

ABSTRACT: One of the main avocado diseases in southern Spain is white root rot caused by the fungus Rosellinia necatrix Prill. The use of organic soil amendments to enhance the suppressiveness of natural soil is an inviting approach that has successfully controlled other soilborne pathogens. This study tested the suppressive capacity of different organic amendments against R. necatrix and analyzed their effects on soil microbial communities and enzymatic activities. Two-year-old avocado trees were grown in soil treated with composted organic amendments and then used for inoculation assays. All of the organic treatments reduced disease development in comparison to unamended control soil, especially yard waste (YW) and almond shells (AS). The YW had a strong effect on microbial communities in bulk soi

SUBMITTER: Bonilla N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4407234 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature