A STRATEGY TO PROMOTE GROWTH OF CROP PLANT USING PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING FUNGI (PGPF) ISOLATED FROM THE ROOT OF CASUARINA JUNGHUHNIANA

Abstract

Endophytes are microorganisms which reside asymptomatically within a healthy plant without causing
any detectable negative effect to the host plant. Plant Growth Promoting Fungus enhances plant growth
through the production of secondary metabolites like indole acetic acid, siderophore, phosphate
solubilization, Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) and prevents the plant by its host defence interaction. In the
present study, six endophytic fungi were isolated from the root of Casuarina junghuhniana
(Casuarinaceae) which is an exotic actinorhizal multipurpose tree. Each fungal isolates were screened for
its production of plant growth promoting traits. Anti-fungal activity was also studied against the fungal
phytopathogens. Out of all the isolates, CJK1 which is identified as Aspergillus sp had the best plant
growth enhancement traits.The effect of the potential isolate was tested for its plant growth promoting
traits using Vigna radiata. Both the cell suspension and cell free broth of Aspergillus sp was treated with
surfaced sterilized seed of Vigna radiata. The growth parameters (root-shoot length) were studied and
compared with uninoculated control. These results imply that the potential fungal endophyte, Aspergillus
sp, acts as a promising bioinoculant in the agroforestry system for improvement of commercially
important crop plants.