The Phytopathogenic Antagonistic Activity of Endophytic Fungi from Xiangzhuqing Ancient Cultivated Tea

PurposeIn this study, the antagonistic activity of the endophytic fungi from Xiangzhuqing ancient cultivated tea against phytopathogenic fungi was investigated.

MethodEndophytic fungi were isolated by mycelium cusp purification, and identified by morphological and molecular biological methods. The active isolates were screened by five-point confrontation culture method and clarify their taxonomic status.

Result308 of endophytic fungi were isolated from the branches and leaves of the title plant, which belonged to 61 morphological types. The results showed that the inhibition rates of 18 active endophytic fungi belonging to 2 phylum, 3 classes, 10 orders, 13 families and 14 genera were above 50% against more than 4 species of tested pathogenic fungi. The inhibition rates of 13 isolates against at least one species of tested pathogenic fungi were more than 75%, and those of 9 isolates against 5 species of tested pathogenic fungi were over 50%. Of which, there are three strains Ct-BC40, Ct-BC72 and Ct-LP113 that had an inhibitory rate of more than 80% on 5 species of tested pathogenic fungi, respectively.

ConclusionActive endophytic fungi accounting for more than 96% of the total isolates were widely distributed in Xiangzhuqing ancient cultivated tea, and their antifungal activities and species distribution are diverse.