Effect of fungal endophytes of soybean (Cv. JS-335) on growth parameters and charcoal rot disease incidence of soybean

Abstract

Use of chemicals for growth enhancement and disease control in plants has resulted in hazardous influences to the environment and human health. Therefore, less harmful methods should be implemented and the possibility of using microbes for this purpose has been investigated. Endophytic fungal assemblages have been known to enhance plant growth and decrease disease incidence in some crops including soybean and thus can be used as an alternative to chemicals. A total seven effective fungal endophytes in vitro, which were evaluated to assess their efficacy against M. phaseolina, by sick soil method, in polybags, under screen house condition, they also influenced on growth parameter of soybean (Cv. JS-335), thereby improving seed germination, root length, shoot length and seedling vigour index (SVI) in soybean. In the present study, the results were obtained on per cent mortality (pre-, post emergence and average) and reductions, over untreated control. Fungal endophytes viz., Paecilomyces lilacinus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium sp. were found most effective in reducing the mortality (PRESR, POESM and average) over untreated control, against M. phaseolina in soybean.