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Exploring the biocontrol potential of fungal endophytes from an Andean Colombian Paramo ecosystem

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Abstract

We studied the diversity and biocontrol potential of 100 fungal endophytes isolated from Espeletia spp., endemic plant species from the Paramo in the Andean mountain range. Our sample was genotypically highly diverse at all ITS similarity levels. The antagonistic properties of these isolates were tested against common crop pathogens in Colombia, including Pectobacterium carotovorum, Ralstonia solanacearum, Pseudomonas syringae, Xanthomonas campestris, Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, and Phytophthora infestans. All endophytic isolates were able to significantly inhibit the growth of at least one of the plant pathogens tested (P < 0.05). Three main types of endophyte/pathogen interactions were observed. However, only those endophytes that produced an evident inhibition halo were further studied using their crude extracts to confirm that the inhibitory effect was due to the production of endophytic bioactive metabolites. From these experiments, nine promising isolates were selected for co-inoculation tests with R. solani in tomato plants. The isolates identified as Aureobasidium pullulans and Paraconiothyrium sporulosum not only protected the plants against this pathogen but also allowed them to exhibit similar growth and development as the uninoculated control. This work explores new alternatives for disease management without the application of chemical pesticides.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the Departamento Administrativo de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (Colciencias, Colombia) and thank professors Adolfo Amézquita and Orlando Martínez for their valuable advice in the statistical analysis of the data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Micología y Fitopatología Uniandes (LAMFU), Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia

    L. A. Miles, S. González, M. C. Cepero de García & S. Restrepo

  2. Grupo de Taxonomía y Ecología de Hongos, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia

    C. A. Lopera & A. E. Franco

Authors
  1. L. A. Miles
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  2. C. A. Lopera
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  3. S. González
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  4. M. C. Cepero de García
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  5. A. E. Franco
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  6. S. Restrepo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Restrepo.

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Handling Editor: Monica Höfte

Miles L. A. and Lopera C. A. made equal contributions to this work.

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Miles, L.A., Lopera, C.A., González, S. et al. Exploring the biocontrol potential of fungal endophytes from an Andean Colombian Paramo ecosystem. BioControl 57, 697–710 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-012-9442-6

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