Ornamental plant Pachystachys lutea as a source of promising endophytes for plant growth and phytoprotective activity

Endophytes are growth-promoting agents capable of synthesizing phytohormones, uptaking nutrients, and controlling pathogens. There is a strong potential to exploit them in the agriculture field like biofertilizers biocontrol agents. In this work, we aimed evaluate endophytic fungi isolated from Pachystachys lutea for their solubilize phosphate, synthesise indole acetic acid (IAA), antagonize phytopathogens, promote plant growth under greenhouse conditions. The phosphate solubilization efficiency was assessed on Pikovskaya’s agar medium. For analysis IAA production, mycelia plugs endophytes were cultured Potato Dextrose Broth medium supplemented with L-tryptophan, Salkowski Reagent, absorbance culture measured. antagonism evaluation strain Alternaria sp. PL75 against phytopathogens performed using paired-culture technique. promotion provided by evaluated tomato plants. All strains able phosphate; however, most effective (4.29). Two strains, Nemania PL27 PL75, produced 1.86 1.73 μg mL-1 IAA, respectively. assay, endophyte its fungal extract showed best results pathogen Moniliophthora perniciosa. experiment result increased plantlets emergency speed index percentage germination 60 81.63%. It also observed statistical significance shoot length treated plants suspension (55.38 cm) compared control (41.67 cm).