Salt stress alleviation in Pennisetum glaucum through secondary metabolites modulation by Aspergillus terreus

The growth promoting activities of the isolated endophyte Aspergillus terreus from Aloe barbendsis was studied in the salt stressed Pennisetum glaucum (pearl millet). A significant (P = 0.05) increase in the root-shoot lengths, fresh and dry weights and chlorophyll content of pearl millet seedlings was noticed after colonization by A. terreus under normal conditions. At 100 mM NaCl stress and A. terreus inoculation, the growth rate of pearl millet seedlings were significantly (P = 0.05) inhibited. Furthermore, the IAA production, relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll, soluble sugar, phenol and flavonoid contents were significantly decreased, whereas proline content and lipid peroxidation were increased. On the contrary, pearl millet seedlings inoculated with A. terreus retained significantly (P = 0.05) higher amounts of RWC, chlorophyll, soluble sugar, phenol and flavonoid contents under 100 mM salt stress. The higher IAA production in A. terreus associated seedlings rescued the plant growth and development under salt stress. Moreover, the LC MS/MS analysis of A. terreus cultural filtrate revealed the presence of quinic acid, ellagic acid, calycosin, wogonin, feruloylquinic acid, caffeic acid phenylethyl ester, D-glucoside, myricetin, propoxyphene and aminoflunitrazepam. The results of the study conclude that innoculation of A. terreus improves the NaCl tolerance in pearl millet by ameliorating the physicochemical attributes of the host plants.