Objective: To study the effects of endophytic fungal elicitors

which were separated from different parts of Rehmannia glutinosa

on growth and secondary metabolites contents

in R. glutinosa tissue culture

and make a preliminary study on growth-promoting role of endophytic fungal elicitor. Method: Alternaria alternata

and Penicillium axalicum were used to prepare two different types of elicitors

filtered fermentation liquor and mycelium degradation solution. Then their effects on plant height

fresh weight

chlorophyll content

catalpol and acteoside contents in R. glutinosa tissue culture were investigated. The data analysis was done by using SPSS. The contents of catalpol and acteoside were detected by HPLC. Result: Different fungal elicitors showed significant differences in growth-promoting role. The fungal elicitors of P. axalicum showed a better promoting role than others

and its fermentation filtrate showed the best effect. In this condition

the plant height

fresh weight

root length

chlorophyll content

catalpol and acteoside contents of R. glutinosa tissue culture increased respectively by 27.80%

29.49%

22.80%

15.05%

35.98% and 68.18%. Conclusion: Endophytic fungal elicitor of R. glutinosa can promote the growth of tissue culture

and improve the contents of its secondary metabolites. Further studies are needed for endophytic fungal applications in R. glutinosa.