# Exploring the Potential Applications of _Paecilomyces_ _Iilacinus_ 112
## 4 Discussion
It is considered that endophytic fungal strains could represent a valuable resource for the production of cellulolytic and hemicellulose enzymes [59; 60]. The hydrolytic enzymes can inhibit cell wall synthesis, perforating the cell membrane or degrading cell walls of pathogens. Due to the relevance of hydrolytic enzymes for an efficient biological control, chitinase and cellulase activities were analyzed through qualitative tests on agar specific medium. Chitinases can degrade the fungal cell wall, while cellulases cleave \(\beta\)-14-D glucan bonds of cellulose, the major polysaccharide component of the cell wall. Additionally, keratinocyte activity was analyzed since the carbon source in culture medium is keratin, a complex and structurally stable protein resistant to the degradation. _Paecilomyces_ _illacinus_ 112 exhibited good enzymatic activities, as chitinases, cellulases, and keratinocytes, which ensure an antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi. This result is consistent with other studies that have reported the production of hydrolytic enzymes at the members of _Paecilomyces_ genus. The fungus _P. marquandii_, through its keratinocyte enzymes, was able to hydrolyze keratin waste to form soluble products with a high level of nitrogen, mainly common amino acids. The obtained mixture can be used as foliar fertilizers [61]. Metabolites secreted by endophytic _Paecilomyces_ _variotti_ SJ1 have great potential for improving the crops quality. The biological activity of processed mycelium through ultrasonic extraction was tested on field potatoes and a significant increase in culture yield by 4.4-10.8% was obtained [62]. The effect of culture supernatants obtained from _Paecilomyces_ _illacinus_ 112 on tomato plant growth was investigated. Tomato plants were chosen as they are one of the most important vegetables worldwide, and are also considered a strategic crop. Annually, there are huge losses of tomato crops due to various pathogens and pests, and it is often difficult to control the destructive action of pathogens since they have various mode of attack. In addition, there is already a resistance against common fungicides, and the development of new chemical formulations is expensive and overrides environmental regulations. In this context, it is advantageous to use beneficial microorganisms. The Lowry test showed that the quality of hydrolyzates from cultivation on chicken feathers, in terms of soluble protein content, is superior to those obtained on wool medium. This aspect is supported by the results of the tests performed in greenhouse conditions. _Paecilomyces lilacinus_ 112 was able to produce beneficial effects on tomato plant growth and development, the higher values of parameters growth were obtained in plant treatment with PH obtained from fungal cultivation on medium with 1% feathers. We obtained the following increases in the analyzed parameters: 3.54-fold in plant biomass; 3.26-fold in plant height; 1.28-fold in plant diameter; 1.5-fold in the number of branches/plant; and 1.43-fold in the number of leaves/plant, compared to treatment of plants with water. Similar benefits have been observed as a result of the application of other species of the genus _Paecilomyces_. Thus, [PERSON] et al. [63] demonstrated that _Paecilomyces lilacinus_ strains can significantly increase growth promotion parameters of maize, bean, and soybean plants, the greatest performance being for the strains characterized by their P solubilization ability. Some _Paecilomyces_ strains were selected for their potential as biofertilizers after test trials. Hence, _P. lilacinus_ strain LSM 65 provided a significant increase in maize plant height compared to the control. The interactions between each plant species and microbial strains are very complex and depend on the location of the fungus, mode of resistance induction, and production of phytohormones.