Fungal and bacterial endophytes antagonistic to Phytophthora species causing root rot in Cinnamomum cassia

Abstract

Endophytes were investigated for their potential to protect Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon) from Phytophthora root rot. From healthy cinnamon trees in diseased plantations, 134 bacterial and fungal endophytes were isolated and screened in vitro for their ability to antagonise the root rot pathogens Phytophthora cinnamomi, P. multibullata and P. × vanyenensis. Seventeen endophytes exhibiting high levels of antagonism in vitro (more than 45%) were then tested in a glasshouse study for their ability to reduce the impact of Phytophthora infection in cinnamon seedlings. Trials using cinnamon seeds or seedlings inoculated with an endophyte and then infested with Phytophthora identified three endophytes expressing high levels of disease suppression (based on root damage reduction) and plant growth promotion. These were Penicillium citrinum, Xylaria curta and Clonostachys rosea. These endophytes can potentially be used in the biological control of root rot in cinnamon, but this must be explored further under field conditions.

Impact of green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles for treating dry rot in potato tubers

“…The infected potato tubers were washed with tap water, sterilized for 3 min with sodium hypochlorite solution (1%), and rinsed 3 times using sterilized distilled water. Afterward, small portions were cut from the area between healthy and diseased tissues, transferred in the petri plates containing growth medium of potato dextrose-agar (PDA) supplemented with ampicillin, and incubated at 28 C for 3 to 7 days (Dang et al 2023). The developed fungi (all fungal pathogens infected potato tubers during isolation process and morphological similar to the isolate as more common and caused dry rot disease), were examined macroscopically and microscopically.…”