P, Rajani and H, Aiswarya and MM, Vasanthakumari and Jain, Shreyans K. and Bharate, Sandip B. and C., Rajasekaran and Gudasalamani, Ravikanth and R, Uma Shaanker (2019) Inhibition of the collar rot fungus, Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. by an endophytic fungus Alternaria sp.: implications for biocontrol. Plant Physiology Reports, 24 (1). pp. 1-12.

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Abstract

Sclerotium rolfsii is a necrotrophic, soil-borne pathogenic fungus responsible for serious crop losses worldwide. It is one of the major phytopathogens infecting chilli and causes yield losses ranging from 16 to 80%. Among the various approaches to manage S. rolfsii, biological control is an environmentally acceptable alternative over other chemical methods. In this study, 120 endophytic fungal isolates obtained from a medicinal plant, Nothapodytes nimmoniana were evaluated for their in vitro and in vivo antagonism towards S. rolfsii. Among these, one isolate, Alternaria sp. exhibited 46.62% inhibition against S. rolfsii in dual culture assay on PDA. The inhibition was found to be mediated by the mycotoxin, tenuazonic acid, produced by the endophyte. Pre-germinated chilli seeds treated with mycelial suspension of Alternaria sp. reduced the seedling mortality due to S. rolfsii infection. Pretreatment with the endophyte also enhanced seedling growth and biomass compared to untreated seedlings under greenhouse conditions. These results suggest that the endophytic fungus, Alternaria sp. has potential implication for use as a biocontrol against S. rolfsii as well as for promoting growth of chilli.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Copyright of this article belongs to The Indian Society for Plant Physiology 2019
Uncontrolled Keywords: Collar rot, Chilli, Sclerotium rolfsii, Alternaria sp., Endophytic fungus, Tenuazonic acid, Biological control
Subjects: A ATREE Publications > G Journal Papers
Divisions: SM Sehgal Foundation Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation > Biodiversity Monitoring and Conservation Planning
Depositing User: Ms Suchithra R
Date Deposited: 26 Nov 2025 04:52
Last Modified: 26 Nov 2025 04:52
URI: http://archives.atree.org/id/eprint/713

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