Influence of plant growth-promoting endophytes and on tomato plants ( Mill.).

The protective and growth-promoting activities of and endophytes on tomato plants ( Mill.) are underexplored. We screened 40 endophytic fungi associated with Mexican shrimp plant () using an dual culture assay for , one of the most important phytopathogens of tomato plants. The three best antagonists, (JB224.g1), (JB252.g1), and (JB270), were identified based on multilocus sequence analysis. They were assessed for their inhibition of and phosphate solubilisation capacity, and for the production of indole acetic acid. Greenhouse experiments verified the growth-promoting effects of these endophytes and the suppression of symptoms in tomato plants.   Under greenhouse conditions, the JB252.g1 and JB270 isolates showed positive results for seedling emergence speed. The radicular system depth of plants inoculated with JB270 was greater than that in uninoculated plants (27.21 vs 21.95 cm). The soil plant analysis development chlorophyll metre (SPAD) index showed statistically significant results, especially for the endophyte JB224.g1 (36.99) compared to the control plants (30.90) and plants infected solely with (33.64).