Abstract
The Streptomyces strain UPMRS4 was selected as a potential biocontrol agent for rice blast disease based on its strong antagonistic activity against Pyricularia oryzae strain UPMPo in vitro. It was further identified as a novel Streptomyces sp. through 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis. Biochemical characterization indicated that UPMRS4 was positive for ammonia, urea and siderophore production, as well as amylase, protease and lipase enzymatic tests. Treatment with UPMRS4 was able to reduce 67.9% of disease severity compared with other treatments and able to increase shoot height (15.13%), shoot dry weight (45.75%), leaf surface area (44.6%), root length (48.93), root dry weight (63.25%), number of tillers (42.26%), yield (36.96%), panicle length (15.4%) and the number of spikelet/panicles (29.39%) compared to the control plants at three months after inoculation. The transcript level of chitinase (Cht-1), glucanase (Gns1), pathogenesis-related gene (OsPR1a) and salicylic acid-responsive gene (Oswrky45) were up-regulated during early rice-UPMRS4 interactions. These results suggest that UPMRS4 is a very promising antagonist candidate against P. oryzae which could be developed for sustainable rice blast disease management. To our best knowledge, this is the first study related to the effects of an actinomycete on rice blast disease and plant growth in Malaysia.
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.
