Biochar, compost and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: a tripartite approach to combat Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in soybean

Abstract Sclerotinia stem rot, caused by sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, is a major disease in soybean many parts of the world. Sustainable control measures to combat this pathogen can be better achieved combining different available tools. One element fungal diseases could changing biological activities adding organic matter inputs, such as biochar and compost, soil. Other players are arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF); bioprotective effects have already been documented for them. In present study, we assessed effect compost alone at application rate 20% total substrate (v/v) and/or green waste 3% combination with or without fungi, against their on plant growth characteristics soybean. Substrates including resulted lower severity both, plants inoculated non-inoculated AMF. The AMF root colonization was highest grown treatment ; lowest found substrates containing compost. Soil substrates, especially affected shoot dry production plants; superior treatments Root morphological traits were more strongly influenced than substrate. Our findings suggest that has positive terms suppression, which pronounced