Endophytes are increasingly investigated as biocontrol agents for agricultural production. The identification
of new endophytes with high effectiveness against plant disease is very important. A total of 362 strains of
endophytes, including fungi, bacteria, and actinomycete, were isolated from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)
collected in Hebei, Inner Mongolia and Ningxia provinces of China. The three strains of endophytic bacteria
(NA NX51R-5, NA NX90R-8, and NA NM1S-1) with strong biocontrol capability with >50% effectiveness
were screened against the common alfalfa root rot pathogen Fusarium oxysporum F. sp. medicaginis in
alfalfa seedling germination experiments on MS medium and pot experiments. Using phylogenetic analysis,
the isolates of NA NM1S-1 and NA NX51R-5 were identified as Bacillus spp. by 16S rDNA, while NA
NX90R-8 was found to be Pseudomonas sp.
Evaluation of foliar sprays of biocontrol agents, botanicals and fungicides for the production of healthy rice seed in the coastal ecosystem
