Actinomycetes mediated biochemical responses in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) enhances bioprotection against Rhizoctonia solani

Six actinomycetes isolates, namely Streptomyces toxytricini vh6, Streptomyces flavotricini vh8, S. toxytricini vh22, Streptomyces avidinii vh32, Streptomyces tricolor vh85 and vh41, an isolate of an unknown species of Actinomycetales, were tested for their efficacy in protecting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) against Rhizoctonia solani under green house conditions. Actinomycetes treated plants showed better growth in terms of high chlorophyll content, higher phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity and high total phenolic content. Qualitative and quantitative estimation of phenolic compounds from tomato leaves showed significant accumulation of six phenolic acids, gallic (29.02 μg g−1 fresh leaf wt), ferulic (11.44 μg g−1 fresh wt), cinnamic (56.84 μg g−1 fresh wt), gentisic (24.19 μg g−1 fresh wt), chlorogenic acid (1.72 μg g−1 fresh wt) and salicylic (0.39 μg g−1 fresh wt) acid, in actinomycetes treated plants. Biochemical profiling, when correlated with plant mortality in actinomycetes treated and untreated plants, indicated that isolates vh6 and vh8 offered 44.55% and 40.14% disease reductions, respectively compared to the control. These results established that these organisms have the potential to act as biocontrol agents.

► This study dealt with effect of antagonistic actinomycetes isolates on plant defense system in tomato and their evaluation for biological control against Rhizoctonia solani under green house condition.
► This study involves use of actinomycetes as plant growth promoting (PGP) as well as biocontrol by induction of plant defense system, as the use of actinomycetes in such approach was found very less reported.
► An accumulation of plant phenolics as well as growth parameters such as chlorophyll content were observed to be enhanced at significant level.
► This study explores an implementation of antagonistic actinomycetes as plant growth promoters and biocontrol agents in combined way, which make them competitive compared to other commercial biocontrol agents.