Biocontrol of chickpea root rot using endophytic actinobacteria

Eleven actinobacterial strains were isolated from different plants, lentil (Lens esculentus), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), pea (Pisum sativum), faba bean (Vicia faba) and wheat (Triticum vulgare) from Paskerville, South Australia. Isolates were characterized and identified morphologically as well as using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Of the actinobacteria tested, 72% produced siderophores, 33% were positive for cyanogens production, and 11% showed phosphate solubility. All isolates had antimicrobial activity against Phytophthora medicaginis, Pythium irregulare and Botrytis cinerea. In a greenhouse experiment, actinobacteria with the highest biocontrol capabilities were tested for their ability to control Phytophthora root rot on chickpea. Both Streptomyces sp. BSA25 and WRA1 successfully suppressed Phytophthora root rot when coinoculated with either Mesorhizobium ciceri WSM1666 or Kaiuroo 3. Streptomyces sp. BSA25 with either rhizobial strain enhanced vegetative growth of root (7-11 fold) and shoot dry weights (2-3 fold) compared to infected control, whereas Streptomyces sp. WRA1 increased root and shoot dry weights by 8- and 4-fold, respectively when inoculated with M. ciceri WSM1666. We suggest that careful selection of actinobacteria should be considered when coinoculated with beneficial microorganisms as plant symbionts.