Interactions of Collembola and Microflora of Cotton Rhizosphere

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Abstract
Proisotoma minuta and Onychiurus encarpatus, the most prevalent rhizosphere species of Collembola in Alabama [USA] cotton fields, feed on both plant pathogens and saprophytic fungi. These insects readily transported fungal spores and bacteria through sterilized soil resulting in the colonization of dead organic matter, cotton rhizosphere and live roots with various organisms, including Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum. Rhizoctonia solani was not transported in quantities sufficient to colonize substrates. The animals were most attracted to roots during periods when the soil was drying slowly. A potential role is postulated for Collembola that may be disease-related, i.e., transmitting spores to the rhizosphere and reducing inoculum density by feeding on pathogen mycelia.

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