Microbiological differences between soils suppressive and conducive of the saprophytic growth of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici

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Abstract
A soil acidified by ammonium sulphate following annual application of the fertilizer for 9 years was suppressive of the saprophytic growth of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici in soil (pathogen suppressive). The same soil amended with lime was pathogen conducive. In natural field soil microbial respiration and the 'total' number of aerobic microorganisms were greater in the conducive than in the suppressive soil. In a soil-sandwich bioassay of the transferable suppression of saprophytic growth of the pathogen there were higher numbers of 'total' aerobic microorganisms, fluorescent pseudomonads, and Gram-negative organisms, but lower numbers of filamentous fungi and yeasts in the conducive than in the suppressive soil. It was estimated that Trichoderma spp. made up 71 and 34% of the total numbers of fungi counted in the suppressive and conducive soils, respectively. It is proposed that Trichoderma spp. played a major role in the transferable pathogen suppression in the suppressive soil.