Plant-growth-promoting endophytes (PGPE) are a kind of beneficial microorganisms which could inhabit plant tissues to antagonize certain plant pathogens and promote the host plant's growth and development. At present, many studies have confirmed the mutualistic effect of endophytes with plants, but there are few systematic studies on beneficial roles between endophytes and Dactylis glomerata, especially on the PGPE characteristics of the forage and environmental restoration plant. This study aimed to isolate PGPE from D. glomerata, evaluate their effects on plant growth, and ultimately acquire desirable microbial inoculants for agricultural use. First, endophytes were isolated from D. glomerata by plant re-inoculation experiment, and identified by morphological and molecular analyses. Fixation medium and methods were carried out to assess the nitrogen fixation ability of the strains. Then, the ability to dissolve phosphorus was determined by the Olsen and silicate medium methods; secretory IAA was measured by Salkowski colorimetric method; and the inhibitive effects on phytopathogen were observed by confrontation culture. Twenty-one strains were isolated from four varieties of D. glomerata, among which 14 strains with plant-growth-promoting characteristics were obtained by re-inoculation experiments, including seven endophytic bacteria and seven endophytic fungi. Further evaluation of three selected strains with the most significant PGP attributes were performed by using the pot re-inoculation experiment which revealed that TG2-B derived from Myroides odoratimimus was the most effective plant-growth-promoting agent due to its ability to produce high levels of IAA; the strain Bacillus cereus exhibited the most robust ability in dissolving inorganic phosphorus; and Trichoderma harzianum manifested a conspicuously antagonistic effect against a variety of plant pathogens. For the first time, this study reports the identification of D. glomerata endophytes that were able to promote plant growth and have a considerable antagonistic effects on plant pathogens, which could be considered as microbial inoculants for using in improving crop production and plant disease control.
Keywords: Dactylis glomerata L.; IAA; antimicrobial activity; phosphate solubilization; plant-growth-promoting endophytes.