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Endophytic microorganisms as potential growth promoters of banana

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Abstract

The potential of endophytic microorganisms in promoting the growth of their host plant was determined by artificially introducing five isolates (bacterial and fungal strains: UPM31F4, UPM31P1, UPM14B1, UPM13B8, UPM39B3) isolated from the roots of wild bananas into both healthy and diseased banana plantlets (Berangan cv. Intan). The response of the host plants to endophytic infection was assessed by measuring the change in four growth parameters: plant height, pseudostem diameter, root mass and total number of leaves. The endophytes tested as growth promoters were found to have a significant effect in both healthy and Fusarium-infected (diseased) plantlets. In both experimental systems, the bacterial isolate UPM39B3 (Serratia) and fungal isolate UPM31P1 (Fusarium oxysporum) showed promising growth-promoting properties. Isolate UPM39B3 (Serratia) induced the largest increases in all four growth parameters in healthy plantlets – 3.14 cm (height), 1.12 cm (pseudostem diameter), 2.12 g (root mass) and 1.12 (total number of leaves plant−1) – followed by isolate UPM31P1 (Fusarium oxysporum). The beneficial effect of UPM39B3 (Serratia) and UPM31P1 (Fusarium oxysporum) was also reflected in the diseased plantlets, where pre-treatments with the isolates either singly (T6: UPM31P1; T8: UPM39B3) or in a mixture (T7: UPM31P1 +  UPM39B3; T9: UPM14B1 +  UPM13B8 +  UPM39B3) were able to sustain the growth of plantlets, with significantly higher growth values than those in diseased plantlets that were not infected with endophytes (T10: FocR4). These results demonstrate the economic significance of these endophytic isolates, particularly UPM39B3 (Serratia) and UPM31P1 (Fusarium oxysporum), both as potential growth promoters of banana and as agents rendering tolerance towards Fusarium wilt as a strategy in the management of Fusarium wilt of banana via improved vegetative growth.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Malaysian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) for the funding provided and to United Plantations Bhd. for their assistance in preparation of plant materials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Genting Kelang, Setapak, 53300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Adeline S. Y. Ting

  2. Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

    Sariah Meon & Jugah Kadir

  3. Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

    Son Radu

  4. Research Department, United Plantations Bhd., Jenderata Estate, 36009, Teluk Intan, Perak Darul Redzuan, Malaysia

    Gurmit Singh

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  1. Adeline S. Y. Ting
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Correspondence to Adeline S. Y. Ting.

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Ting, A.S.Y., Meon, S., Kadir, J. et al. Endophytic microorganisms as potential growth promoters of banana. BioControl 53, 541–553 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-007-9093-1

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