Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
(eISSN: 2229-4473)
Biocontrol potential of Serendipita indica against Verticillium sp. and Phytophthora sp. in Solanum melongena L. under Greenhouse Conditions
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Research Articles | Published: 22 August, 2026
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Keywords: n Serendipita indican , n Verticillium sp., n Phytophthora sp., n Solanum melongena L., Defense enzymes
Abstract
Wilting and damping-off caused by Verticillium sp. and Phytophthora sp. are among the major diseases affecting Solanum melongena L. Serendipita indica (formerly Piriformospora indica) is a root endophytic fungus capable of colonizing a broad range of host plants and enhancing resistance against several plant pathogens. Therefore, the present study evaluated the efficacy of Serendipita indica (S. indica) as a biocontrol agent against Verticillium sp. and Phytophthora sp. under greenhouse conditions. Root colonization by S. indica reached 75% in inoculated plants and remained high (70%) under combined pathogen challenge. Disease severity was 26.30% and 28.65% in plants inoculated with Verticillium sp. and Phytophthora sp. alone, respectively, while the highest disease severity (43.42%) occurred in plants challenged with both pathogens. Co-inoculation with S. indica consistently reduced disease severity and disease severity index compared with the corresponding pathogen-only treatments. Enhanced defense responses were evident through increased peroxidase (7.6 U mL?1), polyphenol oxidase (1.117 U mL?1), and proline accumulation (17 mmol g?1 tissue) in S. indica-colonized plants compared with pathogen-inoculated plants. These findings demonstrate that S. indica effectively suppresses disease development while enhancing biochemical defense mechanisms in S. melongena. Unlike arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, S. indica can be readily cultured on synthetic media, making it a promising and practical biocontrol agent for improving disease resistance and crop productivity.
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Author Information
Centre for Incubation, Innovation, Research and Consultancy, Jyothy Institute of Technology Tataguni, Bangalore, India