Isolation and evaluation of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) endophytes against Ceratocystis fimbriata and Fusarium oxysporum, the causal agents of pomegranate wilt

Pomegranate wilt is a major disease that causes the complete death of the plant within a short period of time after its initial symptoms. In this study, a total of 69 fungal and 32 bacterial pomegranate endophytes were isolated and evaluated using the dual culture technique against wilt pathogens, viz., Ceratocystis fimbriata and Fusarium oxysporum. The leaf fungal endophyte LF30 was found effective against both pathogens, with 100 and 74.75