This study was conducted to isolate

This study was conducted to isolate endophytic fungi from oilseed rape (Brassica napus), to identify the
fungal endophytes based on morphology and ITS (ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2) sequences, and to evaluate their
efficacy in suppression of the plant pathogenic fungi Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea. Selected
endophytic fungal isolates were further tested for promoting growth of oilseed rape in potting experiments.
A total of 97 endophytic fungal isolates were obtained from roots (35), stems (49) and leaves
(13) of B. napus. Forty fungal species were identified and most species (80%) belong to Ascomycota.
The species composition is highly diversified with Simpson’s diversity index reaching 0.959. Alternaria
alternata is the dominant species accounting for 12.4% of the isolates. Twenty-four isolates exhibited antifungal
activity against S. sclerotiorum in dual cultures on potato dextrose agar forming inhibition zones of
3–17 mm in width. The culture filtrates of Aspergillus flavipes CanS-34A, Chaetomium globosum CanS-73,
Clonostachys rosea CanS-43 and Leptosphaeria biglobosa CanS-51 in potato dextrose broth exhibited
consistent and effective suppression of oilseed rape leaf blight caused by S. sclerotiorum. Fusarium oxysporum
CanR-46 was detected capable of production of volatile organic compounds highly inhibitory to
S. sclerotiorum and B. cinerea. Moreover, A. alternata CanL-18, Fusarium tricinctum CanR-70 and CanR-
71r, and L. biglobosa CanS-51 exhibited growth-promoting effects on oilseed rape. These results suggest
that B. napus harbors diversified endophytic fungi, from which potential biocontrol agents against
S. sclerotiorum and B. cinerea, and for promoting growth of B. napus can be screened.