Identification and Evaluation of Growth Promoting and Biocontrol Properties of Isolated Endophytic Fungi from the leaves and fruits of Pistacia vera

Endophytic fungi increase plant growth and confer stress resistance to plants  with different mechanisms. In order to identify endophytic fungiof Pistacia vera and to evaluate their growth promoting and biocontrol properties, samples were taken fromthe leaves and fruits of Pistacia vera in Rafsanjan. After morphological and molecular identification, Growth stimulating factors were evaluated by estimating auxin production, siderophore production and inorganic phosphate solubilizing activity. Biocontrol activities were evaluated based on chitinase and hydrogen cyanide production. Mean comparison of the data showed that the highest amounts of auxin at levels of 0 and 50 mg/L of tryptophan were produced with Trichoderma atroviride TA2-2-1as the amount of 19.34 and 32.88 mg/L, respectively. Quambalaria cyanescens QC11-3-2 produced the highest amount of siderophore which the ratio of the diameter of the halo zone to the colony was 2.96. Only, Byssochlamys nivea BN1-1-1had the ability to solubilize the inorganic phosphate which the ratio of the halo zone diameter to the colony diameter was 1/1. Most chitinase activities were observed by Trichoderma harzianum TH 5-1-2 (2.92 U/mL) and T. atroviride TA2-2-1 (2.34 U/mL), respectively. T. atroviride TA2-2-1 and Clonostachys rosea CR2-3-1 were able to produce the HCN.