Role of endophytic Penicillium species and Pseudomonas monteilii in inducing the systemic resistance in okra against root rotting fungi and their effect on some physiochemical properties of okra fruit.

AIMS: The efficacy of three isolates of endophytic Penicillium species that have shown significant suppressive effect on root rotting fungi in our previous study were further evaluated in pots and field plot experiments for their effect on root diseases of okra, induction of systemic resistance and physiochemical properties of okra fruit. METHODS AND RESULTS: Aqueous suspensions of endophytic Penicillium and Pseudomonas monteilii were applied in pots and field plots using okra as test plant. Data on the fungal infection of roots, plant growth, plant resistance markers like polyphenol, salicylic acid and antioxidant status of plant were determined. These isolates significantly suppressed root diseases and induced systemic resistance via increasing level of resistance markers, polyphenol and salicylic acid besides improving antioxidant activity of Penicillium and P. monteilii-treated plants as compared to control plants. GC-MS analysis of n-hexane extract of mycelium of P. nigricans revealed the presence of 15 different volatile compounds. CONCLUSIONS: Endophytic Penicillium and P. monteilii have potential against root-infecting fungi of okra and can improve plant growth and yield. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Endophytic Penicillium species and P. monteilii can suppress root rotting fungi by direct mechanism or induction of systemic resistance in plants.

Cytotoxic activity of marine macro-algae on Artemia salina (brine shrimp).

A total of 22 ethanol extracts of seaweed species (13 brown, 6 green and 3 red) collected from the Karachi coast were investigated for brine shrimp cytotoxicity. Of all the species, only six namely Stoechospermum marginatum, Sargassum swartzii, S. binderi, Spatoglossum asperum, Stokeyia indica (brown) and Caulerpa racemosa (green) showed significant activity. n-Hexane-soluble fractions of the ethanol extract of S. marginatum and S. swartzii were found to be responsible for the activity, whereas the methanol-soluble fractions of S. asperum and S. binderi were most active. The water extract of S. indica and C. racemosa exhibited the most prominent activity (LC50 value below 70 micrograms/mL) when compared with the ethanol extracts and their fractions. Cytotoxic activity may be due to the compounds differing in polarity.