Journal
AGRONOMY-BASEL
Volume 12, Issue 10, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/agronomy12102263
Keywords
endophytic fungi; Candida membranifaciens; maize; salt stress; IAA; phenols; flavonoids
Categories
Funding
- National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) - Korea government (MSIT) [2022R1A2C1008993]
- National Research Foundation of Korea [2022R1A2C1008993] Funding Source: Korea Institute of Science & Technology Information (KISTI), National Science & Technology Information Service (NTIS)
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study found that the fungal endophyte Candida membranifaciens isolated from Euphorbia milii L. has the ability to alleviate salt stress and significantly enhance the growth attributes of maize.
Fungal endophytes are not widely known for their role in bioactive metabolite production and salinity stress alleviation in different crop plants. Presently, we investigated the salt stress (NaCl, KCl, and H2SO4) mitigation capabilities of fungal endophyte Candida membranifaciens (FH15) isolated from Euphorbia milii L. The pure culture filtrate (CF) of C. membranifaciens revealed siderophore production and solubilization of phosphate, with high levels of indoleacetic acid (IAA: 35.8 mu g/mL), phenolics (70 mu g/mL), and flavonoids (50 mu g/mL) by using a UV spectrophotometer. The LC/MS analysis of the CF showed different phenols and flavonoids that were identified as Salicylic acid, Baicalein, Aconitic acid, Feruloylquinic acid, Coniferyl aldehyde hexoside, Pentose, Chlorogenic acid, Myricetin, Propoxyphene, and Amino-flunitrazepam. Inoculation of maize seedlings with C. membranifaciens significantly (p = 0.05) enhanced the fresh and dry biomass, carotenoid, and chlorophyll contents under 100 mM salt stress conditions. Similarly, the catalase, peroxidase activity, phenols, proline flavonoids and relative water contents (RWC) of the maize plants were enhanced. More interestingly, the inoculation of C. membranifaciens on maize revealed a higher endogenous IAA level as compared to non-inoculated control plants. Endophyte C. membranifaciens inoculation on maize seedlings under salt stress revealed a 20.87% and 16.60% increase in fresh and dry biomass, as well as significantly enhanced root shoot length and allied growth attributes, in addition to an alleviation of the adverse effects of salinity stress. Conclusively, endophytic C. membranifaciens significantly enhanced the growth attributes of maize and mitigated the adverse effects of salinity stress. Such endophytic fungal strain could be used for further field trails to enhance agricultural productivity and facilitate sustainable agricultural practices.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available