In Vitro Evaluation of Antagonism of Endophytic Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Against Potent Fungal Pathogens of Camellia sinensis.

An endophytic fungus isolated from Camellia sinensis, Assam, Northeastern India was identified as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on the basis of morphological characteristics and rDNA ITS analysis. This endophytic fungus was evaluated for growth inhibition against tea pathogens Pestalotiopsis theae and Colletotrichum camelliae. One isolate of C. gloeosporioides showed strong antagonistic activity against Pestalotiopsis theae (64 %) and moderate activity against C. camelliae (37 %). Fifty percent cell-free culture filtrate from 5-day-old cultures showed highest antagonistic activity against both the pathogens although the inhibition percent was less as compared to dual culture. In the experiment of volatile compounds none of the isolates of C. gloeosporioides strains showed visible inhibition against P. theae and C. camelliae. The activity of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes chitinase and protease was also high in this culture fluid and measured 10 and 4.3 IU/μl, respectively.