Effect of endophytes on seedling growth of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) under non-stress and osmotic stress conditions

Abstract

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) is mainly cultivated as a rainfed crop in
arid and semi-arid regions, where moisture stress is a major abiotic constraint
limiting growth and productivity. Developing strategies for improving moisture stress
adaptation is therefore essential. Endophytes, being eco-friendly and sustainable
biological agents, provide a promising approach to enhance crop growth and stress
resilience. In this study, the effect of endophytes in seedling growth was examined by
suppressing native endophytes using fungicide, bactericide, and their combination.
The elimination of native endophytes resulted in reduced seedling growth, indicating
their positive influence on early development. To further evaluate their functional
role, two externally introduced endophytes K-23 (Fusarium incarnatum) and SF-5
(Fusarium equiseti) were tested with adequately wetted germination paper.
Additionally, the effect of K-23 was investigated under osmotic stress. The findings
revealed that endophytes contribute significantly to seedling establishment by
promoting growth, even under non-stress conditions. More importantly, the habitat-
adapted endophyte K-23 enhanced seedling tolerance to osmotic stress, suggesting
its role in imparting stress-adaptive traits. Overall, the results highlight that
endophytes not only support early seedling development but also confer moisture
stress resilience, making them a potential tool for improving moisture stress
adaptation in finger millet cultivation.