Pesticides effect on growth of dark septate endophytes in vitro

Abstract

Pesticides are the necessary agrochemicals used in agricultural practice for the prevention of crops from pests and diseases. Pesticides may have direct effects on the non-target organisms, particularly these saprobic and symbiotic soilborne fungi. Dark septate endophytes (DSE) are endophytic fungi that colonize living plant roots without causing a negative impact. DSE might function as mutualistic fungi taking part in nutrients and altering the environmental tolerance of host plants, especially in stressed environments. The research was aimed to study the effect of pesticides on the growth, spore production, and morphology of DSE fungi isolated from citrus. This test used three active ingredients of pesticides namely Propineb 70%, Mancozeb 80 % (fungicides), and Glyphosate (herbicide). Dosage of pesticides in the treatments were 0.5 times, 1-time, 2-times of the recommended doses, and control (without pesticides). Three isolates of DSE fungi used were 5, 19, and TLG 2 isolates. The study showed that the growth of three isolates of DSE fungi on PDA containing various doses of Propineb 70% was significantly different from the control, as well as the spore density. Mancozeb 80% affects the growth of all fungi isolates compared to the control. DSE isolate 19 was more susceptible to the concentration of Mancozeb in the growth medium compared to 5 and TLG 2 isolates. The spore density in isolate 5 was significantly different compared to the control. The use of Glyphosate showed a relatively mild inhibitory effect on the growth and sporulation of DSE. Differences in the DSE isolates and the active ingredients of pesticides affected the growth and sporulation of DSE fungi.