Understanding colonization and proliferation potential of endophytes and pathogen via plating, polymerase chain reaction and ergosterol assay.

This study aimed to establish the colonization behavior and proliferation potential of three endophytes and one pathogen (Gb) introduced into oil palm ramets (host model). The endophytes selected were (WAA02), (T2), and (BTF08). Ramets were first inoculated with 100 mL of fungal cells (10 cfu mL) via soil drenching. For the next 7 days, ramets were sampled and subjected to three different assays to detect and identify fungal colonization, and establish their proliferation potential . Plate assay revealed the presence of endophytes in root, stem and leaf tissues within 7 days after inoculation. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) detected and identified the isolates from the plant tissues. The ergosterol assay (via high performance liquid chromatography, HPLC) confirmed the presence of endophytes and Gb . The increase in ergosterol levels throughout 49 days was however insignificant, suggesting that proliferation may be absent or may occur very slowly . This study strongly suggests that the selected endophytes could colonize the host upon inoculation, but proliferation occurs at a slower rate, which may subsequently influence the biocontrol expression of endophytes against the pathogen.