Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Vol. LXVI, Issue 2
Written by Carmen Palmira IONESCU, Ana Cornelia BUTCARU, Fulvia-Florica VLAD, Beatrice Michaela IACOMI
This study presents the first screening of the fungal endophytic community associated with pear twigs and buds. Experiments were conducted on collected biological material from the Romanian resistant-disease pear collection. Endophytic fungal community in twigs was represented by Alternaria (35%), Aureobasidium (25%), Cladosporium (16%), Penicillium (5%), Fusarium (4%), Sordaria (4%), Nigrospora (3%), Trichoderma (3%) and Botrytis (0.6%) isolates. Isolates belonging to Alternaria (56%), Aureobasidium (47%), Cladosporium (15%), Fusarium (5%), Trichoderma (4%), Epicoccum (3%), Penicillium (2%) and Nigrospora (2%) genera were detected and identified in buds. Our results highlight the presence of isolates belonging to genera Aureobasidium, Epicoccum, Sordaria, and Trichoderma, which have been described as having antagonistic properties and/or potential to promote plant growth. A better understanding of these endophytic communities in a complex network can bring information on their roles, on their interactions with pear trees and with pathogens, and their mechanism of action.
[Read full article] [Citation]