7.7.5 Downy Mildew
Sixty different endophytic bacterial isolates belonging to different genera were iso-
lated from root and stem tissues offive medicinal plants (Cymbopogon citratus,
Azadirachta indica, Phyllanthus emblica, Boerhaavia diffusa and Boerhaavia
repens) and two agricultural crops (Pisum sativumandSorghum bicolor) and one
weed plant (Parthenium hysterophorus) and were tested against pearl millet downy
mildew disease. The peral millet seeds were treated with endophytic bacteria;
P.fluorescensISR 34 andBacillussp. ISR 37 recorded greater control of downy
mildew disease, by 68 and 63%, respectively. From the above results it is concluded
that the endophytic bacterial strains not only reduces the disease incidence but also
increased the plant growth by way of induced systemic resistance (Chandrashekhara
et al. 2007 ). Endophytic bacterial isolates obtained from cucumber leaves and tested
againstPseudoperonospora cubensiscausing downy mildew disease. The results
revealed that the strain CE8 recorded high level of inhibition againstP. cubensis.In
thefield test, the same strain showed high level of control efficacy (42.1%) and
disease reduction in cucumber. Further, the phylogenetic analysis based on 16S
rDNA identified the strains asBacillussp. (Sun et al. 2013 ).
7.7.6 Basal Stem Rot/Ganoderma Wilt/Thanjavur Wilt
An endophytic bacteriumPseudomonas cepacia(B3) andPseudomonas aerugi-
nosa(P3) isolated from root tissues of oil palm exhibited strong inhibition on the
growth ofG. boninensecausing ganoderma wilt (Dikin et al. 2003 ). Histological
studies revealed that bacteria endophytes confined to the vascular bundles of the
roots taken from symptomless palms (Zaiton et al. 2006 ). Total of 581 endophytic
bacteria were isolated from root tissues of oil palm and tested againstGanoderma
lucidumcause of wilt pathogen. Among these, three endophytic bacteria namely
Pseudomonas aeruginosa GanoEB1, Burkholderia cepacia GanoEB2, and
Pseudomonas syringaeGanoEB3 were highly effective in inhibiting the mycelia
growth of test pathogen. All the three isolates were underfield condition. The
results revealed that the only isolateP. aeruginosaGanoEB1 was highly effective
in controlling disease incidence of 13.3–26.7% compared to control (60%) (Ramli
et al. 2016 ).
7.7.7 Post Harvest Fungal Diseases
Finite efforts were made by using endophytic bacteria for the control of storage
diseases. Endophytic bacteria were tested to control stone fruit rot pathogens
Monilinia laxaandRhizopus stolonifer(Pratella et al. 1993 ). One hundred and
146 A. Muthukumar et al.