PHYTOHORMONES PRODUCTION BY FUNGI POLLUTED ONION (ALLIUM CEPA L.) AND MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) PLANTS

Document Type : Novel Research Articles

Abstract

Phytohormones are significant plant growth regulators produced by Plants and some microorganisms especially those related to the plant root partition. Auxins, and gibberellins are the most common phytohormones concentrated inside the plants. In this study, rhizosphere, rhizoplane and endophytic fungi were isolated from ten onion (Allium cepa L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) samples collected from Assiut Governorate on potato dextrose agar medium at 28± 2oC. In the current study, Twenty species related to 13 genera were identified from onion (17 and 12) and maize (8 and 5) plants. The Highest occurrence genera on the examined plants were Aspergillus, Cochliobolus, and Fusarim, of which A. flavus, A. niger, A. terreus, C. spicifer, and F. oxysporum were the common species. Out of 58 fungal isolates tested, 42 isolates could produce indole acetic acid and the highest producer was Fusarium solani (No.148) which isolated from maize rhizosphere yielding 1249 µg/ml. Whereas, out of 55 fungal isolates, 52 isolates produce gibbrellic acid and the highest producer was endophytic fungus Aspergillus terreus (No.155) giving 203 µg/ml. The present study revealed higher diversity of rhizosphere fungi than rhizoplane and endophytes associated with the tested plants. Also, the colonization rate and diversity of fungi vary from plant to plant. The current work provides preliminary data for exploration into diverse bioactive natural products originated from fungi and prospects on ecosystem reconstruction. The study proved that two isolates (Fusarium No.148 and Aspergillus No.155) have a high ability to produce growth hormones that lead to increasing plant growth and improving its productivity. Future studies should also, consider isolating fungi from other plant parts and identification of their metabolites since these substances may contain potential novel properties.

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