Isolation of Bacterial Endophytes and Evaluation against Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.) Leonard and Suggs in Sorghum

Abstract

The present study evaluates the Isolation of bacterial endophytes and evaluation against Exserohilum turcicum in sorghum. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) ranks as the world's fifth most significant cereal crop.  One of the most significant foliar diseases is turcicum leaf blight, caused by Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.) Leonard and Suggs, is seen in severe form in the main sorghum-growing regions of the Guntur district. Chemical control is used to manage turcicum leaf blight. Given the possible risks associated with the use of chemicals in agriculture, the use of potentially antagonistic endophytes that are naturally present in the plant system has made it possible to produce natural and environmentally friendly food. During research morphologically and culturally diverse endophyte colonies were isolated. Endophyte SRSE-01, which showed 52.75% inhibition, was shown to be much better than other endophytes. Leaf sap isolates SLSE-04 (51.6%), SLSE-05 (51.1%), and SLSE-03 (50.00%) were found to be comparable to one another and better than endophytes from leaf fragments. Variation in the fungal growth pattern in the interaction zone was noted, along with thickening of the hyphal strands, anastomosis and the production of chlamydospores. In the present study, incompatible interactions with endophytes was perceived by the formation of chlamydospores which might have occurred due to antagonistic nature of endophyte due to the synthesis of either enzymes or toxins or antibiotics.