Biological control of the two-spotted spider mites by Clonostachys rosea and by soil microbiota inoculated to strawberry plants
Soil microorganisms and entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) colonize plant roots and help plant growth and suppressing pest population, so, the study of microbial and EPF mediated under- and aboveground interactions with plant physiological responses is critical to advance our understanding of mechanisms underlying information exchange in plants. In this study, we examined the plant-mediated effects of soil microorganisms and of Clonostachys rosea (KIS 1881) on the population growth of two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) in strawberry (Clery cultivar) as root inoculants. Furthermore, we investigated the flavonoid changes in strawberry leaves, and rhizosphere microbiota in response to soil inoculation (i.e., soil slurry vs. autoclaved/sterile slurry vs. water), to C. rosea inoculation (i.e., water used as control vs. Cr) and to spider mite feeding (i.e., non-infested vs. mite-infested).