Biocontrol of Phelipanche ramosa, a parasitic weed of rapeseed in France, using soil-borne fungi
Résumé
Phelipanche ramosa is a major holoparasitic weed, which became a major agronomic problem
for rapeseed crops in France. Weed control in rapeseed does not have a direct impact on this
parasitic weed whose half of the reproductive cycle occurs on the root system of its host. Since
1990, broomrape expanded its distribution area starting from the Poitou-Charentes region.
Necrosis symptoms on broomrapes from this region should be indicators of potential
pathogenic fungi. Furthermore, these pathogenic fungi should be able to infest different
broomrape stages. The aim of my thesis is to contribute to the evaluation of an integrated control
solution for this parasitic weed and focus on the use of pathogenic fungi isolated from
symptomatic broomrapes as biocontrol solutions. A collection of 99 isolates was constituted.
We studied the germination inhibition of broomrape seeds by each fungal isolate to investigate
their impact on broomrape seeds in petri dishes. The pathogenicity of these fungi was assessed
by inoculating them in pots containing soil, rapeseed and broomrape seeds to record the growth
inhibition or necrosis induction of young broomrape stages. The 99 isolates showed a variable
germination inhibition of broomrape seeds, from zero to 89% germination. One strain of
Fusarium strongly inhibited broomrape germination and was significantly virulent when
inoculated close to broomrape seeds leading to 84% of necrotized broomrapes in average
compared to 1% necrotized broomrapes with another strain. However, this first strain was not
as virulent when inoculated at the surface of the soil. The results highlight the importance of
the inoculation mode, and the complexity of soil fungi, rapeseed and broomrapes interactions.
Further cytological experiments would enlighten the colonization mode of the fungus to
improve its pathogenic virulence against broomrape.