Abstract
The present study aims to identify the diverse endophytic fungi residing in the roots of Dendrobium moniliforme and their role in plant growth and development. Nine endophytic fungi were isolated from the root sections and characterized by molecular technique. Quantification of the indole acetic acid (IAA) compound by these endophytes was done. Further, Chemical profiling of R11 and R13 fungi was done by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). Asymbiotic seed derived protocorms of Rhynchostylis retusa was used for the plant growth assay to investigate the growth promoting activities of the fungal elicitor prepared from the isolated fungi from D. moniliforme. Among the isolated fungi, the relative dominant fungus was Fusarium sp. The R13 and R6 fungi were identified only at the genus level which concludes the fungi are of new species or strain. The indole acetic acid production was relatively higher in R10. Bioactive compound diversity was observed in the organic extract of R11 and R6. The presence of phenolic compound and essential oil suggest their contribution for the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties to their host plant, D. moniliforme. The plant growth assay result concluded, the fungal elicitor prepared from R10, Colletotrichum alatae was the best among all other for the plant growth activities.
Highlights
Orchids are well known for their ornamental and medicinal values, as well as for their features as indicators of ecological integrity
Orchids associate with endophytic fungi throughout their life cycle for their growth and development: endophytes grow in living plant tissues without causing obvious symptoms or morphological modifications, with variable impacts on host nutrition [2,3]
All morphotypes looked homogeneous in terms of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence and all belonged to Ascomycota (Table 1), in the genera
Summary
Orchids are well known for their ornamental and medicinal values, as well as for their features as indicators of ecological integrity. Their microbial association is poorly understood and described. The limit between endophytic and truly mycorrhizal fungi is difficult to delineate [6,7]. These endophytic fungi may directly or indirectly contribute to the fitness of the plants. They increase the seed germination rate, seed elongation, Plants 2019, 8, 5; doi:10.3390/plants8010005 www.mdpi.com/journal/plants
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
