Impact of biocontrol agents Pseudomonas fluorescens CHA0 and its genetically modified derivatives on the diversity of culturable fungi in the rhizosphere of mungbean

Aims: To assess whether Pseudomonas fluorescens strain CHA0 and its genetically modified derivatives, CHA0/pME3424 (antibiotic over‐producer) and CHA89 (antibiotic‐deficient) could have an impact on the fungal community structure and composition in the rhizosphere of mungbean. Methods and Results: Under glasshouse conditions, mungbean was grown repeatedly in the same soil, which was inoculated with CHA0, CHA0/pME3424, CHA89 or was left untreated. Treatments were applied to soil at the start of each 36‐day mungbean growth cycle, and their effects on the diversity of the rhizosphere populations of culturable fungi were assessed at the end of the first, second and third cycles. The effects of CHA0 and CHA0/pME3424 did differ from the controls while CHA89 did not. Whereas all major fungal species were frequently isolated from both bacterized and nonbacterized rhizospheres, certain fungal species were exclusively promoted or specifically suppressed from Pseudomonas‐treated soils. In general, fungal diversity and equitability tended to decrease with time while species richness slightly increased. Whilst a total of 29 fungal species were isolated from the mungbean rhizosphere, only eight species colonized the root tissues. Conclusions: Soil inoculation with Ps. fluorescens CHA0 or CHA0/pME3424 altered fungal community structure in mungbean rhizosphere but strain CHA89 failed to produce such effect. Significance and Impact of the Study: Pseudomonas fluorescens‐mediated alteration in the composition and structure of fungal communities might have acute or lasting effects on ecosystem functioning. Furthermore, the study provides useful data pertinent to characterization of the fate of genetically modified inoculants (e.g. antibiotic‐overproducing Pseudomonas strains) released into the environment.