Carnivorous fungi application for pesticide-free vegetable cultivation

Background: Carnivorous fungi are commonly found inagricultural soils around the world, including RA. These fungi are trapping and eating microscopic nematode worms that reside in the  soil and water. Phytopathogenic nematodes are harmful for agriculture, significantly decreasing the quality of vegetables and other crops. The classical pesticides are either ineffective or unsafe for human health and environment. Thus, an application of innovative biopreparations that address these safety and efficacy concerns are more preferable in terms of green agriculture and pesticide free food production. Objectives: This ecological and genetical study of Armenian carnivorous fungi, includingthe isolation, identification and in vitro study of nematicide activity against the local nematode pests, can be prospective for obtaining pesticide-free vegetables. Results: In this study, 50 strains of predatory fungi were isolated. According to the obtained data, local predatory fungi isolated from Armenian soils have demonstrated higher activity against both vinegar eel (Turbatrix aceti test object) and the local species of potato hookworm (Globodera rostochiensis) compared to the analogous trade preparations.  Conclusions: The collected data demonstrated that different species of carnivorous fungi are present in Armenian soil. Particularly, the studied Orbilia oligospora (Fresen.) Baral and E. Weber (syn. Arthrobotrys oligospora (Fresen.) and Orbilia brochopaga Drechsler species of fungi had shown high activity against the potato hookworm. The identified fungal strains have demonstrated more efficiency, than the fungi-based trade biopesticides. Probably it is related to the features of source of pathogen and fungi isolation, which defines the strain-specificity of nematicide enzymes of the observed fungi.  Keywords: nematophagous fungi, pesticide-free vegetables, nematode toxins, fungal nematicide enzymes, Orbilia oligospora, Orbilia brochopaga, potato hookworm