Endophytic actinomycetes from Pinus thunbergii and their antifungal activity against Cylindrocladium sp.

The inside of Pinus thunbergii could be a reliable screening source for a useful agent in controlling plant disease. Isolation of endophytic actinomycetes from P. thunbergii and their potential as biocontrol agents against the plant pathogen Cylindrocladium sp. were investigated. Two endophytic actinomycetes, Streptomyces sp. and Microbispora sp., were isolated from surface-sterilised root tissues of P. thunbergii seedlings. The recovery test of these two endophytic actinomycetes from pine seedling showed that Streptomyces sp. was isolated from only roots, but Microbispora sp. was isolated from both roots and leaves. Thus, Microbispora sp. is able to move to leaves from roots. Moreover, we evaluated the potential of both strains as biocontrol agents against Cylindrocladium sp. Two weeks after inoculation of Cylindrocladium sp. alone, pine seedlings showed a 50% mortality rate. Co-inoculation of Cylindrocladium sp. and Microbispora sp. did not affect seedling mortality rate. However, inoculation with both Cylindrocladium sp. and Streptomyces sp. reduced seedling mortality to 12%. Streptomyces sp. could be a useful agent in controlling pine disease caused by Cylindrocladium sp. Thus, it seems that Streptomyces sp. may induce a local host defence reaction and Microbispora sp. systemically spreads to aerial parts through the transpiration stream.