Symbiotic effect of endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica with rice (Oryza sativa) on resistance against Bakanae disease

Fusarium prolifratum is a causal agent of Bakanae disease (root rot and crown rot) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) which result in sever reduction of plant growth and yield. Morever، it produces mychotoxin that cause toxication in human and animals. Piriformospora indica is a endophytic fungus that can induced systemic resistance against different plant pathogens. In the current study، rice plants were pre-inoculated with P. indica followed by infected with Fusarium prolifratum in order to study the endophytic effects on plant resistance against Bakane disease as well as possibility of non-chemical control of the disease. A mild typical symptoms of the Bakane disease were developed in rice plants pre-inoculated with P. indica and chalenged with the Fusarum. Activity of some antioxidant enzymes such as Proxidase (POD)، Ascorbat proxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) were measured 4 days after inoculation with F. prolifratum in root and leaves. The concentration of the three enzymes were significantly higher in colonized plants with P. indica and challenged with F. prolifratum compare to non-colonized and control plants in root and leaves. These results suggest that P. indica might protect rice from necrotrophic pathogens through activating the plant antioxidant enzyme. Therefore، results of this research showed that the endophytic fungus P. indica can be used as one of the non-chemical methods for controlling Bakanae disease in rice.