STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF ENDOPHYTES AGAINST Pyricularia grisea CAUSING BLAST DISEASE IN FINGER MILLET
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Date
2025-05-19
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University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
Abstract
Many landraces are reported to have resistance against pests and diseases. In the present study,
it was hypothesized that cross-inoculation of endophytes from landraces into susceptible
varieties helps in management of blast pathogen, Pyricularia grisea. Endophytes live inside
host tissue at least for their life cycle without affecting host system. In the present study, 42
bacterial and 34 fungal endophytes were isolated from 15 landraces of finger millet and were
screened against pathogen in dual culture assay and screened isolates were further tested for
biocontrol efficiency by mycelial biomass reduction assay, double plate Petri dish assay,
production of siderophores, HCN, ammonia, hydrolytic enzymes activities, also tested for plant
growth promotion activity like growth hormone production and phosphate solublization.
Majority of elite bacterial endophytes were from seeds and greater number of fungal isolates
were from root. Bacterial isolate HMS-1 and fungal isolates KRL and HGRS-2 were efficient
in inhibiting pathogen growth under in-vitro studies and enhancing seedling vigour,
germination, biocontrol efficiency under in-planta studies. In addition to biocontrol efficiency,
these isolates were capable of promoting plant growth. Efficient isolates were identified, HMS-
1-Lysinibacillus macroides GKVK 1 (OQ379904), KRL –Talaromyces pinophilus GKVK 2
(OQ379908) and HGRS-2 -Daldinia sp. GKVK 3 (OQ379909) upon molecular sequencing.
Efficient endophytes were tested along with the existing management practice (Chitosan seed
treatment + Pseudomonas spray) in pot culture under greenhouse conditions. Endophytic
consortia have reduced disease incidence (5.56 %) compared to pathogen treated (61.27 %)
and are on par with existing practice (5.73 %) and enhanced crop growth and yield, indicating
their PGPR activity. As endophytes colonize within the plant tissue, have an advantage over
rhizobacteria through protection from external environment. Hence, the inoculation of
endophytes from landraces into susceptible is one of the prominent strategies to manage blast
disease in finger millet.