Amelioration Of Systemic Resistance In Tomato Against Root Rotting Fungi By The Endophytic Trichoderma Species

Endophytes are bacteria and fungi that are contained entirely within the plant tissue, are non-pathogenic and may be mutualistic. Beneficial interaction between endophytic fungi and plant have been reported including plant growth promotion and suppression of plant pathogens. In this study out of 88 plant samples endophytic Trichoderma spp., were isolated from 20 samples, belonging to 13 plant species. In dual culture Trichoderma either caused growth inhibition of root rotting fungi Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani and F.oxysporum or parasitized their hyphae. Culture filtrate of selected Trichoderma isolates showed significant antifungal activity against root rotting fungi besides causing mortality of juveniles of Meloidogyne javanica, root knot nematode. In screen house experiments application of aqueous suspension of endophytic Trichoderma species alone or with endophytic fluorescent Pseudomonas in coconut coir amended soil significantly suppressed root rotting fungi of tomato. Application of endophytes also improved plant growth by increasing plant height and fresh shoot weight in many cases. Endophytic Trichoderma and or fluorescent Pseudomonas improved status of plant resistant markers like salicylic acid and antioxidant activity which were further improved in coconut coir amended soil.