Endophytic fungi associated with Monarda citriodora, an aromatic and medicinal plant and their biocontrol potential

Abstract

Context: The Food and Agriculture Organization has estimated that every year considerable losses of the food crops occur due to plant diseases. Although fungicides are extensively used for management of plant diseases, they are expensive and hazardous to the environment and human health. Alternatively, biological control is the safe way to overcome the effects of plant diseases and to sustain agriculture. Since Monarda citriodora Cerv. ex Lag. (Lamiaceae/Labiatae) is known for its antifungal properties, it was chosen for the study.Objective: The isolation of endophytic fungi from M. citriodora and assessing their biocontrol potential.Material and methods: The isolated endophytes were characterized using ITS-5.8 S rDNA sequencing. Their biocontrol potential was assessed using different antagonistic assays against major plant pathogens.Results: Twenty-eight endophytes representing 11 genera were isolated, of which, around 82% endophytes showed biocontrol potential against plant pathogens. MC-2 L (Fusarium oxysporum), MC-14 F (F. oxysporum), MC-22 F (F. oxysporum) and MC-25 F (F. redolens) displayed significant antagonistic activity against all the tested pathogens. Interestingly, MC-10 L (Muscodor yucatanensis) completely inhibited the growth of Sclerotinia sp., Colletotrichum capsici, Aspergillus flavus and A. fumigatus in dual culture assay, whereas MC-8 L (A. oryzae) and MC-9 L (Penicillium commune) completely inhibited the growth of the Sclerotinia sp. in fumigation assay.Conclusions: Endophytes MC-2 L, MC-14 F, MC-22 F and MC-25 F could effectively be used to control broad range of phytopathogens, while MC-10 L, MC-8 L and MC-9 L could be used to control specific pathogens. Secondly, endophytes showing varying degrees of antagonism in different assays represented the chemo-diversity not only as promising biocontrol agents but also as a resource of defensive and bioactive metabolites.

New Cladosporium Species from Normal and Galled Flowers of Lamiaceae

“…Besides emphasizing the need of a thorough revision of strains currently classified as C. cladosporioides and C. pseudocladosporioides , by the finding of two novel species our study confirms the taxonomic heterogeneity of the Cladosporium complex associated with flowers of Lamiaceae. Indeed, these plants represent a fruitful investigational ground for studying diversity of these ubiquitous fungi, also with reference to the possible contribution by endophytic strains to the biosynthesis of components of essential oils and other bioactive compounds, representing the basic property sustaining their industrial exploitation [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Interestingly, two isolates of each new species were found in two ecologically homogeneous areas in Poland and in Italy.…”

Rhizobium Inoculation Drives the Shifting of Rhizosphere Fungal Community in a Host Genotype Dependent Manner

“…Soil fungal communities may also play crucial roles as biological control agents for associated plant species (Katoch and Pull, 2017;Singh et al, 2017). In agriculture, fungi are often used as biological control agents active against pests or pathogens through competition for nutrients and space, or as parasites of pests and pathogens.…”

Alternaria alternata and Neocosmospora sp. from the medicinal plant Euphorbia larica exhibit antagonistic activity against Fusarium sp., a plant pathogenic fungus

“…Several reports indicate that endophytic fungi from plants exhibit antagonistic effect towards phytopathogenic fungi (Mejia et al 2008;Lahlali and Hijri 2010;Kusari et al 2013;Katoch and Pull 2017). The results revealed that the endophytic fungi Neocosmospora sp.…”