Isolation and functional assessment of endophytic fungi from medicinal plants for biocontrol and growth promotion in dry root rot-infected chickpea
摘要
Endophytic fungi were isolated from healthy leaf tissues of Vitex negundo, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Bacopa monnieri, and Plumbago zeylanica. A total of 286 isolates, representing 15 different species, were collected which were identified through the β-tubulin primers. The antagonistic activity of isolated endophytes against the pathogenic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina was tested in-vitro where Aspergillus aculeatus completely dominated the pathogenic fungus. Significant inhibition was also shown by Chaetomium globosum and Trichoderma asperellum. The plant growth-promoting ability of fungal endophytes, including indole acetic acid production, phosphorus solubilization, ammonia production, hydrogen cyanide production, potassium solubilization, siderophore production, and the production of extracellular enzymes like amylase, lipase, laccase, and cellulase, was evaluated using specific tests which revealed that Chaetomium globosum, Colletotrichum fructicola, Trichoderma asperellum, Aspergillus aculeatus, and Fusarium falciforme can improve growth of plants through nutrient mobilization and phytohormone production. Disease management potential of potent endophytes was also evaluated under greenhouse conditions. The greatest reduction in disease was observed with treatments containing Chaetomium globosum, followed by Trichoderma asperellum. Further confirmation was made by assessments of defense enzyme production, viz., peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, which supported the above observations.