Fungal Endophytes of Moringa (<i>Moringa oleifera</i> L.), Neem (<i>Azadirachta indica</i>) and Lavender (<i>Lavandula angustifolia</i>) and Their Biological Control of Fusarium Wilt of Banana
Fusarium wilt, caused by <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> (<i>Foc</i>), significantly affects the productivity of the banana crop in the field. Currently, there are no effective control measures available, and therefore, there is an urgent need to d...
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Microbiology Research |
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| author | Bonface M. Nthuku Esther W. Kahariri Johnson K. Kinyua Evans N. Nyaboga |
| author_facet | Bonface M. Nthuku Esther W. Kahariri Johnson K. Kinyua Evans N. Nyaboga |
| author_sort | Bonface M. Nthuku |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fusarium wilt, caused by <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> (<i>Foc</i>), significantly affects the productivity of the banana crop in the field. Currently, there are no effective control measures available, and therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel strategies to control the spread of the disease. Biological control is a promising strategy for the management and control of the disease. The aim of this study was to identify fungal endophytes associated with Moringa (<i>Moringa oleifera</i>), Neem tree (<i>Azadirachta indica</i>) and Lavender (<i>Lavandula angustifolia</i>) and their antifungal activities against <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> tropical race 4 (<i>Foc</i> TR4). We isolated 69 fungal endophytes from different tissues of <i>M</i>. <i>oleifera</i>, <i>A</i>. <i>indica</i> and <i>L</i>. <i>angustifolia</i> and screened for antifungal activity against <i>Foc</i> TR4. Six fungal endophytes exhibited highest antagonistic activity against <i>Foc</i> TR4 based on dual-culture assays. Based on morphology and ITS gene sequence analysis, the selected six endophytes were identified to be related to <i>Alternaria alternata</i> (MB7 and NR3), <i>Neofusicoccum parvum</i> (LB1), <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> (LR1), <i>Talaromyces amestolkiae</i> (MB14) and <i>Alternaria tenuissima</i> (NB6). The culture filtrates of the six fungal endophytes (LB1, LR1, MB7, MB14, NB6 and NR3) exhibited more than 50% inhibition of mycelial growth of <i>Foc</i> TR4 in vitro and were producers of β-1,3-glucanase. The six fungal endophytes showed biocontrol efficacy against Fusarium wilt in pot experiments. The findings from this study demonstrate that fungal endophytes LB1, LR1, MB7, MB14, NB6 and NR3 should be explored as biocontrol agents and biofertilizers in banana production. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:31:46Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-3cc24a2b33d849edb1100761f855fc5d2023-12-22T14:25:09ZengMDPI AGMicrobiology Research2036-74812023-12-011442113213210.3390/microbiolres14040143Fungal Endophytes of Moringa (<i>Moringa oleifera</i> L.), Neem (<i>Azadirachta indica</i>) and Lavender (<i>Lavandula angustifolia</i>) and Their Biological Control of Fusarium Wilt of BananaBonface M. Nthuku0Esther W. Kahariri1Johnson K. Kinyua2Evans N. Nyaboga3Department of Biochemistry, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi 00100, KenyaDepartment of Biological Sciences, Karatina University, P.O. Box 1957, Karatina 10101, KenyaDepartment of Biochemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi 00200, KenyaDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi 00100, KenyaFusarium wilt, caused by <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> (<i>Foc</i>), significantly affects the productivity of the banana crop in the field. Currently, there are no effective control measures available, and therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel strategies to control the spread of the disease. Biological control is a promising strategy for the management and control of the disease. The aim of this study was to identify fungal endophytes associated with Moringa (<i>Moringa oleifera</i>), Neem tree (<i>Azadirachta indica</i>) and Lavender (<i>Lavandula angustifolia</i>) and their antifungal activities against <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> tropical race 4 (<i>Foc</i> TR4). We isolated 69 fungal endophytes from different tissues of <i>M</i>. <i>oleifera</i>, <i>A</i>. <i>indica</i> and <i>L</i>. <i>angustifolia</i> and screened for antifungal activity against <i>Foc</i> TR4. Six fungal endophytes exhibited highest antagonistic activity against <i>Foc</i> TR4 based on dual-culture assays. Based on morphology and ITS gene sequence analysis, the selected six endophytes were identified to be related to <i>Alternaria alternata</i> (MB7 and NR3), <i>Neofusicoccum parvum</i> (LB1), <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> (LR1), <i>Talaromyces amestolkiae</i> (MB14) and <i>Alternaria tenuissima</i> (NB6). The culture filtrates of the six fungal endophytes (LB1, LR1, MB7, MB14, NB6 and NR3) exhibited more than 50% inhibition of mycelial growth of <i>Foc</i> TR4 in vitro and were producers of β-1,3-glucanase. The six fungal endophytes showed biocontrol efficacy against Fusarium wilt in pot experiments. The findings from this study demonstrate that fungal endophytes LB1, LR1, MB7, MB14, NB6 and NR3 should be explored as biocontrol agents and biofertilizers in banana production.https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/14/4/143antagonistic activitybiocontrolendophytic fungiFusarium wilt<i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i>phylogenetic analysis |
| spellingShingle | Bonface M. Nthuku Esther W. Kahariri Johnson K. Kinyua Evans N. Nyaboga Fungal Endophytes of Moringa (<i>Moringa oleifera</i> L.), Neem (<i>Azadirachta indica</i>) and Lavender (<i>Lavandula angustifolia</i>) and Their Biological Control of Fusarium Wilt of Banana Microbiology Research antagonistic activity biocontrol endophytic fungi Fusarium wilt <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> phylogenetic analysis |
| title | Fungal Endophytes of Moringa (<i>Moringa oleifera</i> L.), Neem (<i>Azadirachta indica</i>) and Lavender (<i>Lavandula angustifolia</i>) and Their Biological Control of Fusarium Wilt of Banana |
| title_full | Fungal Endophytes of Moringa (<i>Moringa oleifera</i> L.), Neem (<i>Azadirachta indica</i>) and Lavender (<i>Lavandula angustifolia</i>) and Their Biological Control of Fusarium Wilt of Banana |
| title_fullStr | Fungal Endophytes of Moringa (<i>Moringa oleifera</i> L.), Neem (<i>Azadirachta indica</i>) and Lavender (<i>Lavandula angustifolia</i>) and Their Biological Control of Fusarium Wilt of Banana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fungal Endophytes of Moringa (<i>Moringa oleifera</i> L.), Neem (<i>Azadirachta indica</i>) and Lavender (<i>Lavandula angustifolia</i>) and Their Biological Control of Fusarium Wilt of Banana |
| title_short | Fungal Endophytes of Moringa (<i>Moringa oleifera</i> L.), Neem (<i>Azadirachta indica</i>) and Lavender (<i>Lavandula angustifolia</i>) and Their Biological Control of Fusarium Wilt of Banana |
| title_sort | fungal endophytes of moringa i moringa oleifera i l neem i azadirachta indica i and lavender i lavandula angustifolia i and their biological control of fusarium wilt of banana |
| topic | antagonistic activity biocontrol endophytic fungi Fusarium wilt <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> phylogenetic analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/14/4/143 |
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