Efficient Role of Endophytic in Biocontrol of Causing Damping-off Disease of and .

The wide spread of plant pathogens affects the whole world, threatening national food security. Various fungi including induce the fungal disease damping-off that negatively affects plant seedlings' growth. Recently, endophytic fungi are used as safe alternatives to chemical pesticides that harm plant and human health. Here, an endophytic was isolated from seeds to control damping-off diseases by improving the defense system in and seedlings. Endophytic fungus was morphologically and genetically identified , and it is deposited in GeneBank under accession OQ338187. demonstrated antifungal efficacy against with an inhibition zone at 22.0 mm. Moreover, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of ethyl acetate extract (EAE) of were between 0.3125 and 0.625 mg/mL to inhibit growth. Precisely 58.34% of the plants survived when was added compared with the untreated infected (16.67%). Similarly, achieved 41.67% compared to the infected (8.33%). Both groups of treated infected plants showed reduced oxidative damage (reduced Malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide levels) as compared to untreated infected plants. Reduced oxidative damage was correlated with the increase in photosynthetic pigments and the antioxidant defense system including polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase enzyme activities. Overall, the endophytic can be considered an effective tool to control the suppression of in legumes, especially and , as an alternative to synthetic chemical pesticides that harm the environment and human health.