Unlocking the biocontrol and plant growth potential of endophytic fungi against pea root rot complex in Himachal Pradesh, India

Pea root rot complex (PRRC)caused by a rangeof fungal and oomycetous pathogens is often recognized as a major yielddeclining factor to pea production. In this study, we have isolated fifty-one endophytic fungifromhealthy pea roots collected from the sub-humid and dry temperate regions of Himachal Pradesh, India. Of these, eight fungiwere assessed for their antagonism against the most predominant PRRC pathogen Fusarium oxysporum using the dual culture test. Under in vitro screenings, the maximum mycelial inhibition of 82.22% was obtained with the Schizophyllum sp. isolate JPE19. Microscopic images from the interaction zone of the endophyte and the target pathogen showed abnormalities in the hyphae of the pathogen. Under glasshouse and field evaluation, themaximum per cent disease control was achieved in treatments withSchizophyllum sp. isolate JPE19 exhibiting 79.42 and 74.29% disease control, respectively. Further, this treatment affected the growth of pea under both glasshouse and field conditions. Plate counts and confocal microscopic analysis showed significantly higher colonization rates in endophyte treated plants. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report on biocontrol and plant growth promoting potential of pea inhabited endophytic fungi.