Evaluating Plant Growth Promoting and drought Stress Alleviating Traits in Fungal Endophytes

Author: Neekshitha Shetty, Earanna N. and Nakul Kale

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Abstract

Drought is one of the devastating environmental stresses which has adverse effect on yield and productivity in all agricultural crops. Among different beneficial microorganisms, fungal endophytes are known impart drought tolerance through physiological, biological and biochemical modifications in plants. They secrete metabolites that combat stress or stimulate the early stress response system in host plant to cope with the stress. The current study aims to characterize, six fungal endophytes viz., P1R1, P4L5, P6R3, P6R4, P10R1 and P12R2 with respect to plant growth promotion and drought stress alleviating traits under invitro conditions. The results showed that all six fungal endophytes were able to solubilize phosphate and produced phytohormones while two fungal endophytes showed siderophore production. Fungal endophyte P6R4 showed the highest phosphate solubilization index and isolate P10R1 showed high siderophore producing index. Stress induced IAA and GA production was observed to be maximum in isolates P10R1 and P6R4 respectively. Similarly, the production of high phenol and flavonoids in their culture filtrates indicated their antioxidant and reducing power activity under stress conditions among the isolates. The study reveals that fungal isolates have the ability to impart drought tolerance in host plants through plant growth promoting activities.

Keywords

Fungal endophytes, drought, phytohormones, antioxidant activity

Conclusion

Fungal endophytes are widely known to impart abiotic stress tolerance in host plants. In this study, fungal endophytes were able to produce growth hormones both under PEG induced stress and normal condition. Also, they were able to solubilize phosphate and produce siderophores. Further, they showed antioxidant activity and accumulated trehalose content in fungal mycelia under drought stress. Overall, this study gives a comprehensive understanding of the mechanism involved in imparting drought tolerance in host plants by fungal endophytes.

References

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How to cite this article

Neekshitha Shetty, Earanna N. and Nakul Kale (2023). Evaluating Plant Growth Promoting and drought Stress Alleviating Traits in Fungal Endophytes. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(5): 157-164.