Sains Malaysiana 55(9)(2026): 1429-1440

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5509-02

 

Dual Efficacy of Aspergillus oryzae SAF1 in Suppressing Fusarium Wilt and Anthracnose and Promoting Tomato and Chili Growth

(Keberkesanan Berganda Aspergillus oryzae SAF1 dalam Menekan Layu Fusarium dan Antraknosa serta Menggalakkan Pertumbuhan Tomato dan Cili)

 

SUWAPHA SAWIPHAK & AROON WONGJIRATTHITI*

 

Program of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, Sakon Nakhon, 47000, Thailand

 

Received: 16 October 2025/Accepted: 19 August 2026

 

*Corresponding author; email: mic_610@snru.ac.th

 

Abstract

The development of sustainable alternatives to chemical fungicides is imperative for managing economically significant plant diseases such as Fusarium wilt in tomato and anthracnose in chili. This study aimed to isolate and screen native fungi for antagonistic activity and biocontrol traits, identify the most promising candidate, evaluate its plant growth-promoting capabilities, and assess its efficacy in suppressing disease and enhancing growth in pot experiments under open greenhouse conditions. In vitro screening showed that SAF1 exhibited antagonistic activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, Colletotrichum acutatum, C. capsici, and C. gloeosporioides, alongside biocontrol traits including siderophores and hydrolytic enzymes (chitinase, cellulase, amylase, and lipase) production. Morphological and ITS analyses identified the isolate as Aspergillus oryzae SAF1. Based on this species-level classification, A. oryzae SAF1 presents a potentially safe profile for agriculture. A. oryzae SAF1 exhibited plant growth-promoting traits, including the synthesis of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and ammonia, complemented by its ability to grow and form a clear zone on nitrogen-free medium, suggesting potential nitrogen fixation, a trait previously unreported for A. oryzae. In pot experiments, A. oryzae SAF1 application significantly reduced the disease index of Fusarium wilt (to 15.00%) and anthracnose (to 7.50%), while enhancing shoot length and biomass in both crops. This study provided the first evidence of A. oryzae as a dual-action agent that simultaneously suppresses anthracnose and promotes growth in chili under pot conditions. These findings demonstrate that A. oryzae SAF1 is a highly promising candidate for development as a bioinoculant to sustainably enhance crop protection and growth.

Keywords: Antagonistic fungi; biological control; disease suppression; mycoparasitism; plant growth-promoting fungi

 

Abstrak

Pembangunan alternatif mampan kepada racun kulat kimia adalah penting bagi menguruskan penyakit tumbuhan yang signifikan dari segi ekonomi, seperti layu Fusarium pada tomato dan antraknos pada cili. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk memencil dan menyaring kulat tempatan bagi mengesan aktiviti antagonistik dan ciri kawalan biologi, mengenal pasti calon yang paling berpotensi, menilai keupayaannya menggalakkan pertumbuhan tumbuhan serta menguji keberkesanannya dalam merencat penyakit dan meningkatkan pertumbuhan melalui uji kaji pasu dalam keadaan rumah hijau terbuka. Saringan in vitro menunjukkan bahawa SAF1 menunjukkan aktiviti antagonistik terhadap Fusarium oxysporumf. sp. lycopersici, Colletotrichum acutatum, C. capsicidan C. gloeosporioides serta ciri kawalan biologi termasuk penghasilan siderofor dan enzim hidrolitik (kitinase, selulase, amilase dan lipase). Analisis morfologi dan ITS mengenal pasti pencilan tersebut sebagai Aspergillus oryzae SAF1. Berdasarkan pengelasan pada peringkat spesies ini, A. oryzae SAF1 menunjukkan profil yang berpotensi selamat untuk kegunaan pertanian. A. oryzae SAF1 menunjukkan ciri penggalak pertumbuhan tumbuhan, termasuk sintesis asid indol-3-asetik (IAA) dan ammonia serta keupayaan untuk tumbuh dan membentuk zon jernih pada medium bebas nitrogen yang mencadangkan potensi penetapan nitrogen, satu ciri yang sebelum ini tidak pernah dilaporkan bagi A. oryzae. Dalam uji kaji pasu, penggunaan A. oryzae SAF1 mengurangkan indeks penyakit layu Fusarium (kepada 15.00%) dan antraknos (kepada 7.50%) secara signifikan, di samping meningkatkan panjang pucuk dan biojisim bagi kedua-dua tanaman tersebut. Kajian ini memberikan bukti pertama bahawa A. oryzae bertindak sebagai agen dwi-fungsi yang secara serentak merencat antraknos dan menggalakkan pertumbuhan cili dalam keadaan pasu. Keputusan ini menunjukkan bahawa A. oryzae SAF1 merupakan calon yang sangat berpotensi untuk dibangunkan sebagai bioinokulan bagi meningkatkan perlindungan dan pertumbuhan tanaman secara mampan.

Kata kunci: Kawalan biologi; kulat antagonistik; kulat penggalak pertumbuhan tumbuhan; mikoparasitisme; perencatan penyakit

 

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