Identification of volatile components and growth promoting effects of endophytes of Tinospora capillipes Gagnep.

Plant diseases seriously affect the agricultural economy and eco-environment. Recently, the agricultural application of endophytes has received considerable attention due to its environmentally friendly characteristics. In this study, endophytes of Tinospora capillipes Gagnep. were isolated, and antagonistic endophytes were screened to explore their biological characteristics and promoting effects, which can lay the foundation for exploring green biocontrol strains. Based on the identification results, two endophytes with antagonistic effect of plant pathogens were identified as Epicoccum nigrum and Arthrinium phaeospermum respectively. Both strains possessed various extracellular enzyme activities, phosphorus hydrolysis and low Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production capacity. A. phaeospermum showed potassium-solubilizing ability while E. nigrum lacked this ability. Both spore suspension and fermentation supernatant of E. nigrum could promote soybean seeds rooting at low concentration. The spore suspension of A. phaeospermum had obvious promoting effect on seeds rooting at high concentration while its fermentation supernatant did not. The main composition of volatile components of A. phaeospermum was phenylethyl alcohol (2-PE). The co-culture of A. phaeospermum with plants could promote the growth of maize seedlings’ taproots, indicating that A. phaeospermum was able to be exploited as sustainable and environment-friendly biocontrol strain in agriculture.