Biotization of Endophytes and in Microplants to Promote Growth, Pathogen Tolerance and Specialized Plant Metabolites.

In the present study, the effect of biotization of microplants with and on growth, sp., incidence, and specialized metabolites content was evaluated. Analyses of root tissues of the microplants showed 100% endophytism with both microorganisms. During the acclimatization phase, plants with the endophytes and had a survival rate of 95% and 93%, respectively, compared to 75% for control plants. Then, under greenhouse conditions, a trial was carried out with biotized plants with or without sp. inoculation, plants inoculated with sp., and endophyte- and pathogen-free control. Biotized plants with the endophytes showed higher dry biomass and the incidence of was lower (8% for and 10% for ) compared to plants inoculated with the pathogen (82%). In addition, plants with had the highest contents of total polyphenols (280 GAE/100 mg sample) and rosmarinic acid (28 mg RA/100 g sample). Thus, this study shows the potential of the technique of using the endophytes and on microplants to improve plant survival and growth, decrease the incidence of sp., and improve the contents of specialized metabolites, which can contribute to the sustainable management of this crop.