Isolation and preliminary in-vitro screening of tea endophytes against certain tea pathogens

Abstract

Endophytic fungi are specific microbes that live at a specific ecosystem in nature. Various endophytic fungi are known to possess an ability to produce a broad range of biologically active substances. Totally, 10 isolates of endophytic fungi were isolated from the stem and leaves of Camellia sinensis located in the south bank of the river Brahmaputra. All isolates were identified on the basis of colony morphology and examination of spores and fruiting bodies using stereo and light microscopes. In vitro antagonistic test of three dominant endophytic fungi BR-4, HTBL and WF were done against Pestolozzia theae , Sphaerostible repens and Fusariumsolani the important disease causing pathogens of tea. BR-4 was found highly effective against S.repens at 76%of inhibition, HTBL strain showed effective antagonism against F.solani withmore than 50% inhibition.