An entomopathogenic fungus, Lecanicillium psalliotae strain IISR-EPF-02 previously found infectious to cardamom thrips, Sciothrips cardamomi promoted plant growth in cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum. The isolate exhibited direct plant growth promoting traits by production of indole-3-acetic acid and ammonia and by solubilizing inorganic phosphate and zinc. It also showed indirect plant growth promoting traits by producing siderophores and cell wall-degrading enzymes like, α-amylases, cellulases and proteases. In pot culture experiments, application of the fungus at the root zone of cardamom seedlings significantly increased shoot and root length, shoot and root biomass, number of secondary roots and leaves and leaf chlorophyll content compared to untreated plants. This is the first report on the plant growth promoting traits of this fungus. The entomopathogenic and multifarious growth promoting traits of L. psalliotae strain IISR-EPF-02 suggest that it has great potential for exploitation in sustainable agriculture.

昆虫病原真菌，Lecanicillium psalliotae菌株IISR-EPF-02先前发现对豆蔻蓟马有感染性，Sciothrips豆蔻树促进了豆蔻（Elettaria cardamomum）的植物生长。。该分离物通过产生吲哚-3-乙酸和氨以及通过溶解无机磷酸盐和锌而表现出直接的植物生长促进性状。它还通过产生铁载体和降解细胞壁的酶（例如α-淀粉酶，纤维素酶和蛋白酶）显示出间接的植物生长促进性状。在盆栽试验中，与未经处理的植物相比，在豆蔻幼苗根部施用真菌显着增加了茎和根的长度，茎和根的生物量，次生根和叶的数量以及叶绿素含量。这是关于这种真菌促进植物生长性状的首次报道。psalliotae的致病性和多种生长促进性状 IISR-EPF-02菌株表明其在可持续农业中具有巨大的开发潜力。