Evaluation of rice fungal endophytes for biological control of blast disease

Rice blast caused by Pyricularia oryzae is the most important disease of rice worldwide. Although application of chemical pesticides can control the disease, but they cause harmful effects on environment and human health. The objective of the current study was to isolate and identify the fungal endophytes of rice as the effective and safe alternatives to chemical fungicides for controlling rice blast disease. Fungal endophytes obtained from leaf, stem, sheath and root samples of rice plants in paddy fields of Mazandaran and Guilan provinces. The antagonistic activities of the fungal endophytes was evaluated in dual culture test in vitro and the most effective strains were selected accordingly for greenhouse experiments. Rice seedlings were treated with the fungal endophytes and p < /em>. oryzae P274 isolate. Disease severity and growth parameters were measured. The lowest blast severity were recorded for Fusarium sp. NR–L645 strain and Microdochium bolleyi NR–L182 strain as 91.67% disease control. In addition, these two fungal endophytes significantly promoted the growth parameters of rice seedlings compared to the control. According to the results of this study, fungal endophytes of rice could be applied as the potential biocontrol agents of rice blast disease and plant growth promoters, but more research is needed for developing them in the future.