Treatments with native Coleus forskohlii endophytes improve fitness and secondary metabolite production of some medicinal and aromatic plants.

Endophytes have been shown to play a crucial role in determining the fitness of host plant during their association, yet the cross-functional effect of endophytes of one plant on another plant remains largely uncharacterized. In this study, we attempt to analyze the effect of native endophytes of Coleus forskohlii (Phialemoniopsis cornearis (SF1), Macrophomina pseudophaseolina (SF2), and Fusarium redolens (RF1), isolated from stem and root parts) on plant growth and secondary metabolite enhancement in medicinal plant Andrographis paniculata, and aromatic plants Pelargonium graveolens and Artemisia pallens. Here, we report, endophytic treatments with SF2 (21%) and RF1 (9%) in A.

A somaclonal variant of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.) with moderately high content of isomenthone in its essential oil.

Rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.), which is highly valued for its essential oil, is exclusively propagated vegetatively. Hence no genetic improvement work is possible through conventional breeding.