Effects of conventional and organic nitrogen fertilizers on soil microbial activity,mycorrhizal colonization,leaf antioxidant content,and Fusarium wilt in highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.)

A study was conducted in the greenhouse to determine the effects of conventional and organic nitrogen (N) fertilizer on Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium solani, in northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. ‘Legacy’). Root colonization by mycorrhizal fungi, soil microbial activity, and leaf antioxidants content was also measured the treatments. Plants grown with organic N fertilizer exhibited a lower incidence of Fusarium wilt than those grown with conventional N fertilizer (5% and 30% by the end of the experiment, respectively). Organic fertilizer also increased the soil biota activity, mycorrhizal colonization, and leaf antioxidant content relative to conventional N source. The results suggest that organic N fertilizer may improve the tolerance of blueberry to soil pathogens, such as F. solani.     

Characterization of a new fungal antagonist of Phytophthora capsici

The capacity of many microorganisms for antagonism towards pathogens is unknown and previously uncharacterized species may be potentially useful in this respect. This work presents the evaluation of the capacity of a previously uncharacterized Ascomycete, denominated here as UA to protect chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) against Phytophthora capsici, and other soil-borne plant pathogens and establishes the role of UA as a biocontrol agent. Inoculation of UA 2 days before the inoculation of P. capsici led to 77.8% survival of pepper plants. Simultaneous confrontation of both microorganisms in vitro led to 53.1% growth inhibition of P. capsici, while the inoculation of P. capsici 3 days after the inoculation with UA improved growth inhibition up to 73%. Simultaneous confrontation in vitro of UA with Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani led to 41.2 and 50% growth inhibition, respectively, but had no effect on Rhizoctonia solani or a binucleate Rhizoctonia isolate. Moreover, formation of zoosporangia and the germination of zoospores were completely inhibited by exposure to undiluted filter sterilized filtrate. UA produces septate mycelia, but could not be classified in detail due to a lack of spores or reproductive structures. However, sequencing of Internal Transcribed Spacer 1, 2 and the 5.8S genes indicated that this fungus is a member of the Ascomycetes.     

Water relations of nursery potting-media

The available water-holding capacities (AWHC) of different potting-materials varied widely; coarse sand has a very low AWHC, and peat moss, sawdust, poppy straw and brown coal each have a high AWHC. The AWHC determines the length of time taken for plants to wilt, except in the case of peat moss and pinebark. Much of the available water in peat moss is rapidly lost through evaporation and easy exploitation by the plant. Pinebark, because it resists water loss through evaporation, and because its available water is not readily accessible to the plant, is able to maintain plants unwilted for a longer time than peat moss despite its lower AWHC. The AWHC and wilting-time of mixtures of 2 potting materials can be predicted from their individual properties.     

Correlation of saponin content and Fusarium resistance in hybrids from different ploidy levels of Lilium Oriental

Lilium Oriental is of great commercial value, but large losses in production can result from its susceptibility to diseases caused by Fusarium ssp. Here we report a mutant of Lilium Oriental resistant to Fusarium, Cai-74, which was generated from crossing tetraploid (from ‘Star fighter’) and diploid (‘Cor. Amore’ × ‘Acapulco’) plants. Hybrid progeny were screened via inoculating Fusarium oxysporum into tissue cultured plantlets in a greenhouse. Although Cai-74 had a saponin content of 3.81 mg g⁻¹, which is much higher than its parents, the highly Fusarium-resistant wild species Lilium dauricum had the highest content of 4.11 mg g⁻¹ among the tested genotypes. Cai-74 had a 3A karyotype rather than 3B found in normal plants of Lilium Oriental. Taken together, our results suggest that Cai-74 bears a chromosomal variation in its structure, and that the saponin content in the lily scales correlate with the Fusarium resistance of Lilium Oriental. Cai-74 could be used as a gene resource for breeding Fusarium-resistant cultivars of Lilium Oriental.     

Influence of liming and fertilization on lowbush blueberry in harvested peat field condition

The objectives of the study were to determine: (a) if the addition of lime reduces the peat soil acidity to a suitable level for lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) plant growth and yield formation; (b) if the fertilizer rates used create favourable conditions for plant growth on peat soil; and (c) if the nutrients uptake will be sufficient for the lowbush blueberry plant growth in changed soil conditions. The experiment was set up in early spring 2000 on the harvested peat field of the Tartu region, South Estonia (58° 22′N, 26° 43′E). The soil type on the experimental area is Fibric–Dystric Histosol. In the experiment the complex fertilizer and limestone powder were used. The use of a mineral fertilizer increased the growth of blueberry plants significantly. Liming reduced soil acidity but decreased blueberry vegetative growth and increased weed numbers. In the given experiment the strongest blueberry bushes developed with the pH_KCl level of 2.5–2.7. General recommendations are to fertilize lowbush blueberries on peat fields every year with a small amount of mineral fertilizer to secure stabile annual productivity of plants. In the plantations of lowbush blueberry on harvested peat fields one should be careful with the use of limestone.     

Selection of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for citrus growth promotion and Phytophthora suppression

In order to reduce unnecessary amount of P-fertilizer and severity of Phytophthora root rot in citrus orchards, the experiment was set up. Thirteen indigenous arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi species were isolated from rhizosphere soil of citrus orchards in Thailand and were then propagated into three host plants [sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), maize (Zea mays), and leek (Allium cepa)] by trap culture. We also tested whether indigenous AMF species (13 different species) could colonize into three cultivars of citrus scions and rootstocks (Shogun: Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Shogun; Tangerine: C. reticulata; and C-35 citrange: Citrus sinensis × Poncirus trifoliata). With root colonization rates, the results indicated that Acaulospora tuberculata and Glomus etunicatum provided the best colonization in all citrus cultivars. We selected, therefore, those AMF species to verify their influences on citrus growth and Phytophthora root rot resistance. Three cultivars of citrus scions and rootstocks, Shogun, Tangerine and C-35 citrange, were inoculated with two effective indigenous AMF species, G. etunicatum or A. tuberculata in order to determine the influences on citrus growth. The plants were investigated to determine the mycorrhizal efficiency index (MEI), AM colonization, P content, and other parameters. Co-inoculation of AMF species (G. etunicatum or A. tuberculata) with Phytophthora nicotianae was also carried out in Shogun scion/C-35 citrange rootstocks. The results of citrus growth revealed that Shogun and Tangerine inoculated with G. etunicatum produced the highest MEI. Tangerine and C-35 citrange amended with fertilizers and G. etunicatum showed the highest P content in leaves. This indicated that G. etunicatum has an influence on citrus growth and P uptake, suggesting it to be the highly effective strain. Shogun scion/C-35 citrange rootstock combinations that were inoculated by both P. nicotianae and different AM fungi (G. etunicatum or A. tuberculata) showed root injury at low level of root rot symptom. However, the part of Shogun scions grafted on rootstocks showed severe symptom of shoot die back in treatment inoculated with P. nicotianae alone, while treatment inoculated with different AM species (G. etunicatum or A. tuberculata) and P. nicotianae rendered lower shoot die back symptoms than that of Phytophthora treatment. The low level of shoot die back symptom was shown at first, then healthy young shoot was restored. Our results indicated the facts that different host plants and different AMF species produced different outcomes of growth and pathogen resistance. The application of both AM isolates, therefore, has an enormous potential to be produced the inoculum for citrus orchards.     

Effect of three Greek arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in improving the growth,nutrient concentration,and production of essential oils of oregano and mint plants

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi have been widely used in agriculture to improve the cultivation of many crops. One of the aims of this study was the isolation and molecular identification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi isolated from mountain areas of Northern Greece (Ritini Pieria, Elatochori Pieria, Ambelakia Ossa). Only three isolates were obtained; two of Glomus etunicatum and one of G. lamellosum. The second objective of this study was to investigate the effect of these arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the concentration of macro- and micronutrients in tissues, the quantity and quality of essential oils and the growth of oregano and mint plants (two widely used aromatic plants in Greece). It was found that mycorrhizal oregano and mint plants had a higher content of essential oils and nutrient elements, and grew better than non-mycorrhizal plants. In addition, the composition of the essential oil in mycorrhizal plants differed from the oil of non-mycorrhizal plants. These results suggest that the use of mycorrhizal fungi may allow plant growth in low fertility soils, reduce fertilizer inputs and increase aromatic plant production of essential oils, They also indicate that it may be possible to use mycorrhizae to affect the quality of the essential oil produced.     

Application of chlorophyll fluorescence for the diagnosis of salt stress in tomato “Solanum lycopersicum (variety Rio Grande)”

To study the response of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Rio Grande) to salinity, the effect on plant growth, water relations, stomatal conductance and Chlorophyll fluorescence was investigated. Tomato plants were grown in peat culture under controlled conditions and submitted during 28 days to saline stress ranging from 0 to 25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM of NaCl. At the end of the experiment period, plant growth was significantly decreased with increasing salinity.     

A rapid,novel and high-throughput identification of putative bell pepper transformants generated through in planta transformation approach

The recent progress on bell pepper transformation through in planta approach is incredibly simple with high transformation efficiencies in indigenous varieties. This method produces chimeric primary transformants (T₀) hence, a large number of T₀ plants and an efficient high throughput screening strategy is necessary to be developed. In the present investigation, we have standardized a rapid and highly efficient method of screening putative bell pepper transformants. Bell pepper transformants harbouring gfp genes was developed using in planta approach and 1050 etiolated T₁ seedlings were screened using fluorescent microscope to select GFP positive plants. The molecular analysis such as, gene specific PCRs, semiquantitative RT-PCR and Southern blots analysis corroborated the transgene integration in selected T₁ transformants. Based on progressive selection strategy, the transformation efficiency was 27.4% in gfp screened plants. The fluorescence based screening is viable, rapid, requires minimal labour, expense, and expertise with less percent of non-transformant escapes; further, this method can be extended from bell pepper to other crops to identify putative transformants developed through in planta approach.     

Two potent allelopathic substances in cucumber plants

Since cucumber plants are mostly discarded as large waste after crop harvesting, allelopathy of cucumber plants was investigated for possible weed management options and utilization of the waste. Two potent growth inhibitory substances were isolated from an aqueous methanol extract of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Phung Tuong) plants. These substances were determined as 9-hydroxy-4,7-megastigmadien-9-one (HMO) and (6S,7E,9S)-6,9,10-trihydroxy-4,7-megastigmadien-3-one (THMO) by the analysis of MS, ¹H NMR spectra and optical rotation. HMO inhibited the growth of cress (Lepidium sativum L.) and Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv seedlings at concentrations greater than 0.3 and 1 μM, respectively. THMO inhibited the growth of cress and E. crus-galli seedlings at concentrations greater than 1 and 3 μM, respectively. The concentrations required for 50% growth inhibition on roots and shoots of cress and E. crus-galli were 2.4–29.3 μM for HMO and 8.1–52.2 μM for THMO. The endogenous levels of HMO and THMO in cucumber plants were 31.8 and 43.5 μg g⁻¹ dry weight, respectively. These results suggest that HMO and THMO may be the causal factors for the growth inhibitory effect of cucumber plants. Therefore, cucumber plants may be potentially useful for weed management options in an agricultural setting, such as a cover crop and soil admixture, which should be investigated further in the field.     

Towards crop improvement in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.): Transgenics (uid A::hpt II) by a tissue-culture-independent Agrobacterium-mediated in planta approach

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation has been one of the methods used to generate transgenic plants in bell pepper. An alternate transformation method that avoids/minimizes tissue culture would be beneficial for the improvement of bell pepper due to its recalcitrant nature. In this report, transgenic bell pepper plants have been developed by a tissue-culture-independent A. tumefaciens-mediated in planta transformation procedure. In the present study, two open pollinated varieties viz., Arka Gaurav and Arka Mohini were used for transformation. Agrobacterium strain EHA105 harboring the binary vector pCAMBIA1301 that carries the genes for β-glucuronidase (uid A) and hygromycin phosphotransferase II (hpt II) was used for transformation. GUS histochemical analysis of T₀ and T₁ plants at various stages of growth followed by molecular analysis using PCR, Southern analysis and RT-PCR allowed selection of transgenics. The method resulted in 17.8% and 11.4% of the T₀ plants in Arka Gaurav and Arka Mohini being selected as chimeric and 35.0% and 29.7%, respectively, were identified as stable transformants in the T₁ generation based on PCR analysis.     

Genetic transformation of Prunus domestica L. using the hpt gene coding for hygromycin resistance as the selectable marker

The study and development of transformation technology with new selection schemes is important for various fundamental studies and for crop trait improvement via genetic engineering. Here we have shown that hygromycin resistance is an effective system for plum genetic transformation. Embryonic axes of mature seeds were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 containing the pC1381 plasmid carrying the hygromycin phosphotranferase gene (hpt) and β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene or with strain EHA105 containing the plasmid pC1301 carrying the same marker and reporter genes. The latter strain containing a pC2301 plasmid carrying the neomycin phosphotransferase gene (nptII) gene was used as a control. Infected explants were placed on shoot induction medium containing either 5 mg L⁻¹ hygromycin or 75 mg L⁻¹ kanamycin for selection. Green shoots developed from the explants under hygromycin pressure. These shoots showed continued and vigorous growth and development upon transfer onto fresh hygromycin medium. PCR using hpt sequence primers, and Southern blot analysis using a probe from the hpt gene, confirmed the presence of the transgenes and their stable integration in regenerated plants. Full transgenic plants were obtained in a greenhouse. Hygromycin selection was very effective and no escapes were observed. The study demonstrated that hygromycin resistance can be used as an effective selectable marker for plum transformation. The new system developed here is important and useful for multiple gene transformation in plum.     

Development of seedless and Mal Secco tolerant mutant lemons through budwood irradiation

Mal secco (caused by Phoma tracheiphila (Petri) Kantsch. and Gik.) is the most destructive fungal disease of lemon plantations worldwide and seedless lemons would be preferred by most consumers. Five dosage levels, 0, 3, 5, 7, and 9 kiloradian (krad), of cobalt (⁶⁰Co) gamma irradiation were applied to budstick of ‘Kutdiken’ lemon (Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f.) clone KT-2A. Mutations were stabilized in three vegetative generations. Three hundred fifty-eight and 478 M1V3 (mutation one and vegetation three) plants were evaluated for seed number and mal secco tolerance in the field and the greenhouse, respectively. LD₅₀ was around 5 krad gamma irradiation for ‘Kutdiken’ lemon. The seed number varied from 0 to 34 per fruit. The level of mal secco tolerance also varied significantly among the plants from 1.0 (no symptom) to 4.3 (high level of disease occurance). The stable seedless and mal secco tolerant plants were obtained from 5 and 7 krad irradiation: the three mutants from 5 krad irradiation gave more lemon-like fruits, while 7 krad irradiation caused altered tree morphology and early maturation of fruits. This study shows considerable potential for lemon cultivar improvement aiming to obtain seedless and mal secco tolerant lemons.     

Direct regeneration of plants derived from in vitro cultured shoot tips and leaves of three Lysimachia species

The regenerability of three ornamental species—Lysimachia christinae, Lysimachia rubinervis and Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’, were investigated using in vitro leaves and shoot tips. 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) added to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium were tested for their effect on organogenesis. On the medium, shoot regeneration occurred directly without callus formation. In these species, L. christinae developed the highest regeneration rate and numbers of shoots/explant from shoot tips (100%, 12.25) and leaf bases (100%, 13.01) on the MS medium containing 3.0 mg l⁻¹ BAP and 0.1 mg l⁻¹ NAA. For L. rubinervis, the highest shoot induction rate and number of shoots/explant were obtained from shoot tip (100%, 16.87–17.20) on the MS medium with 0.1 mg l⁻¹ NAA and 3.0–5.0 mg l⁻¹ BAP. L. nummularia ‘Aurea’, however, showed the highest regeneration rate and number of shoots/explant (100%, 12.73) from leaf bases on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l⁻¹ BAP and 0.1 mg l⁻¹ NAA. All in vitro shoots rooted well on half macronutrient MS medium containing 0.1 mg l⁻¹ NAA. After acclimatization, transplanted plantlets grew normally and flowered in the field.     

Cybrid/hybrid plants regenerated from somatic fusions between male sterile Satsuma mandarin and seedy tangelos

Somatic hybridization provides an alternative for transferring mitochondria-encoded cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). Herein, symmetric protoplast electrofusion was conducted between embryogenic callus protoplasts of Citrus unshiu Marc. cv. Guoqing No. 1 (G1), a CMS cultivar, and mesophyll-derived protoplasts of seedy ‘Page’ tangelo [C. reticulata Blanco × (C. reticulata Blanco × C. paradisi Macf.)] or ‘Nova’ tangelo [C. reticulata Blanco × (C. reticulata Blanco × C. paradisi Macf.)], to transfer CMS trait. Flow cytometry analysis showed that 14 plants recovered from G1 + ‘Page’ tangelo that displayed typical morphological character of ‘Page’ were diploid, and 6 plants regenerated from G1 + ‘Nova’ tangelo were tetraploid. Genetic compositions of regenerated plants from the two fusions were determined by SSR, CAPS and chloroplast-SSR analysis. Cybrid nature of diploids from G1 + ‘Page’ tangelo with nuclear DNA from ‘Page’, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from the G1 and chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) derived from either parent was confirmed. Tetraploid plants from G1 + ‘Nova’ tangelo were identified as somatic hybrids with random cpDNA inheritance. The regenerated cybrid and hybrid plants hold great potential for Citrus seedless breeding at diploid or triploid levels.     

Biofertilizers improve plant growth,fruit yield,nutrition, metabolism and rhizosphere enzyme activities of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in Indian Thar Desert

Production of horticultural crops has undergone enormous change in recent years due to development of innovative technologies including integrated nutrient management practices using biofertilizers. The present study represents the positive response of biofertilizers in nursery seedlings followed by their transplantation in harsh field conditions of Indian Thar Desert. Nursery and field experiments were carried out to assess the effectiveness of selected N₂-fixing bacteria and AM fungi alone or in combination, on the growth and biomass production of Punica granatum. In both experiments, the combined treatment of Azotobacter chroococcum and Glomus mosseae was found to be the most effective. Besides enhancing the rhizosphere microbial activity and concentration of various metabolites and nutrients, these bioinoculants helped in better establishment of pomegranate plants under field conditions. A significant improvement in the plant height, plant canopy, pruned material and fruit yield was evident in 5-year-old pomegranate plants in field conditions. In view of the above results, use of biofertilizer technology may be adopted for the establishment and development of other horticultural plant species in arid regions.     

Production of transgenic sweetpotato plants resistant to stem nematodes using oryzacystatin-I gene

Stem nematode (Ditylenchus destructor Thorne) is one of most serious diseases limiting sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) production, and it is urgent to develop sweetpotato varieties resistant to this disease. In present study, we have developed transgenic sweetpotato (cv. Xushu 18) plants resistant to stem nematodes using oryzacystatin-I (OCI) gene with Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 harbors a binary vector pCAMBIA1301 with OCI gene, uidA gene and hptII gene. Selection culture was conducted using 7 mg/l hygromycin. A total of 2119 plants were produced from the inoculated 1710 cell aggregates of Xushu 18 via somatic embryogenesis. GUS assay and PCR analysis of the regenerated plants randomly sampled showed that 92.8% of the regenerated plants were transgenic plants. Transgenic plants exhibited enhanced resistance to stem nematodes compared to the untransformed control plants by the field evaluation and the inoculation test with stem nematodes and stem nematode-resistant plants were selected from the transgenic plants. Stable integration of the OCI gene into the genome of resistant transgenic plants was confirmed by Southern blot analysis, and the copy number of integrated OCI gene ranged from 1 to 3. High level of OCI gene expression in the resistant transgenic plants was demonstrated by real-time quantitative PCR analysis. This study provides a way for improving stem nematode resistance of sweetpotato.     

Chromosome observation method at metaphase and pro-metaphase stages in diploid and octoploid strawberries

Chromosome observation is necessary to elucidate the structure, function, organization, and evolution of octoploid strawberry plants’ genes and genomes. However, distinguishing strawberries’ chromosomes from one another using light microscopy is extremely difficult, not only because of their small size and large number, but also because current chromosome observation methods are insufficient. Chromosome preparation and staining using maceration enzymes, acetic acid, and DAPI (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) were improved for this study to obtain clear images of somatic chromosomes in Fragaria vesca (2n = 14) and Fragaria×ananassa (2n = 56). Collected root tips of octoploid plants were placed in 0.002 M 8-hydroxyquinoline solution for 1 h and stored at 4 °C for 16 h. Subsequently, they were fixed using 3:1 absolute alcohol:glacial acetic acid for 40 min, hydrolyzed in the 1N HCl solution at room temperature for 2 h, macerated using an enzyme solution for 25 min at 42 °C, and stained in 1.5% lacto-propionic orcein solution. On the other hand, in case of DAPI staining, the macerated root tips of octoploid plants were soaked in 60% acetic acid for 5 min before staining. Clear digital images of F. vesca and F.×ananassa were obtained using light and fluorescent microscopy. Their respective 14 and 56 chromosomes were counted. Fluorescent microscopy yielded clear chromosome images at the pro-metaphase in F. vesca and F.×ananassa. This chromosome observation method alleviates the difficulties that have heretofore hindered chromosome analyses of strawberry plants.     

Ethylene influences development and flowering of Ptilotus spp. in vitro and ex vitro

The genus Ptilotus has immense potential for ornamental horticulture but its commercial development has been hindered by propagation limitations. Poor seed quality and germination are reported. Cutting propagation is limited by cutting supply as the juvenile phase of Ptilotus is short. Micropropagation has been used in an attempt to overcome these difficulties but explants become floral in vitro and this causes plantlets to elongate. Ethephon has been used to control flowering of stock plants of many ornamental species. This study investigated the effect of ethephon applied to young (3-week-old, deflasked from tissue culture) and mature (1-year-old) Ptilotus plants in a greenhouse. A system of applying gaseous ethylene at 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg l⁻¹ to the headspace of in vitro plantlets in glass jars was developed and the response of in vitro plantlets to ethylene studied. One-year-old Ptilotus plants were treated with 500 mg l⁻¹ ethephon 2 days before pruning or 1 or 2 weeks after pruning. Ethephon application 2 days before pruning decreased the number of inflorescences and increased the number of shoots (compared to the control) but was phytotoxic. Ethephon applications of 150 or 300 mg l⁻¹ applied weekly or fortnightly to 3-week-old plants deflasked from tissue culture reduced plant height and number of inflorescences and at low concentrations increased the number of new shoots. A fortnightly application at 150 mg l⁻¹ is recommended. Previous reports on the effects of ethylene on inflorescence production on plantlets in vitro are limited. Our study showed that exposure of in vitro plantlets of P. nobilis to ethylene gas at 100 mg l⁻¹ for 1 h significantly increased the number of shoots and plant height but this did not occur for plantlets of P. spicatus. Plantlets of P. spicatus exposed to transient ethylene at 200 and 300 mg l⁻¹ showed significantly greater rooting (52.4%) than the control (13.6%).     

Piriformospora indica promotes adventitious root formation in cuttings

Adventitious root formation in excised plant shoots is a crucial process in the vegetative propagation of many plant species, and insufficient rooting causes substantial losses in the propagation industry. Based on the various physiological effects on whole plants described for the basidiomycete Piriformospora indica, it was hypothesized that inoculation of the substrate with this endophyte should promote the generation and growth of adventitious roots in cuttings. Inoculation experiments were conducted to study the effects of P. indica on adventitious rooting in three plant species. Inoculation with P. indica dramatically enhanced the number and length of the adventitious roots in pelargonium and poinsettia. Root colonization parameters suggest that the interaction between the endophyte and cuttings had already occurred before physical contact. In contrast, petunia showed no rooting response to P. indica inoculation. Very fast root formation in this plant indicates that a minimum time period for the fungus–plant interaction is required for establishment of a promoting effect. P. indica-based biotechnology is proposed as a new tool for improving plant propagation systems of plant species or cultivars with low to moderate capacity of adventitious root formation.