Bio Control Efficacy of Fungal Endophytes of Finger Millet Landraces against Blast Pathogen (Pyricularia grisea)

Author: Bhagyashree K.B., N. Umashankar, Raveendra H.R., L. Krishna Naik, N. Earanna and P.S. Benherlal

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Abstract

Plant diseases cause heavy losses to crop yield, which encourages effective disease management practices like use of chemicals, resistant varieties, etc. From the point of environmental safety, biological control of plant diseases is gaining importance. Endophytes are microbes that reside within the plant tissues without causing any harm to the host. Finger millet is considered a climate-resilient crop, able to resist harsh environmental conditions, while the crop is affected by a devastating disease, the blast caused by Pyricularia grisea. Landraces are well adapted to local conditions including biotic and abiotic stress factors and some possess resistance to the blast disease. In the present study, 34 fungal endophytic isolates from different landraces were screened for their antagonistic activity against blast pathogen. Isolates KRL (80.21 %) and HGRS-2 (78.45 %) were efficient in inhibiting the pathogen in dual culture assay by means of antibiosis and hyper-parasitism. Three isolates were positive for siderophore production and seven for ammonia production and most of them were positive for various cell wall degrading enzymes. It suggests that the microflora of these landraces possess antimicrobial activity and one can make use of them as the best microbial inoculants for management of blast disease, to improve plant growth and crop yield.

Keywords

Endophytes, Landraces, Biocontrol activity, Blast disease, Pyricularia grisea

Conclusion

Thirty four fungal endophytic isolates were isolated from fifteen landraces of finger millet and were screened against blast pathogen under in vitro conditions. Isolates, KRL and HGRS-2 were efficient in controlling pathogen growth in dual culture with siderophore and ammonia production. These fungal isolates were able to control the pathogen establishment with their enzymatic activity. Endophytic ability of these isolates will be further examined in pot culture to test their biocontrol efficacy.

References

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How to cite this article

Bhagyashree K.B., N. Umashankar, Raveendra H.R., L. Krishna Naik, N. Earanna and P.S. Benherlal (2023). Bio Control Efficacy of Fungal Endophytes of Finger Millet Landraces against Blast Pathogen (Pyricularia grisea). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(3): 610-613.