MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Innovative fungal bioagents: producing siderophores, IAA, and HCN to support plants under salinity stress and combat microbial plant pathogens

Summary

Scientists discovered two beneficial fungi that help wheat plants survive in salty soil and resist diseases. These fungi work by producing growth-promoting substances and natural compounds that fight harmful plant pathogens. When used to treat wheat seeds, these fungi significantly improved plant growth even under high salt stress conditions, offering a natural alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides for farming in salt-affected areas.

Background

Salinity stress is a major environmental constraint affecting global agricultural productivity and food security, particularly impacting salt-sensitive crops like wheat. Plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) offer an eco-friendly alternative to chemical inputs for enhancing plant resilience to abiotic and biotic stresses. Limited research has focused on fungal PGP activities and their efficacy in inducing plant tolerance to salinity stress compared to bacterial approaches.

Objective

This study aimed to isolate and screen endophytic fungal isolates from Atriplex nummularia and soil fungi for salinity tolerance, evaluate their plant growth-promoting traits, assess antagonistic potential against plant pathogens, and determine their ability to enhance wheat seedling growth under salt stress conditions.

Results

Two salt-tolerant fungal isolates were identified: Alternaria sp. AS1 (endophytic) and Aspergillus terreus B4 (soil). Both produced IAA, siderophores, and HCN under normal and saline conditions, with phosphate solubilization increasing at 8% NaCl. Dual culture assays showed inhibition of Alternaria alternata (55.49-58.53%) and Fusarium oxysporum (62.47-64.9%), while ethyl acetate extracts demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against tested pathogens.

Conclusion

Endophytic Alternaria sp. AS1 and soil fungus Aspergillus terreus B4 show promise as bio-inoculants for improving plant growth and resilience in saline environments. Seed treatment with these fungi and their consortia significantly alleviated salinity stress effects and enhanced wheat seedling growth parameters, highlighting their potential for sustainable agricultural applications.
  • Published in:Microbial Cell Factories,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research Study,
  • Source: PMC12709779, 41291784
Scroll to Top