A novel dark septate fungal endophyte positively affected blueberry growth and changed the expression of plant genes involved in phytohormone and flavonoid biosynthesis

Abstract

Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) are one of the most studied groups of root fungal endophytes in recent years. However, the effects of DSE on host plant are still under debate, and the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we identified a DSE fungus of the genus Anteaglonium, named T010, from the wild blueberry. When inoculated into Vaccinium corymbosum L. plants, T010 could enhance root growth and promote shoot branching, leading to increased plant growth. By comparative transcriptome analysis, we obtained 1948 regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the V. corymbosum plants treated by T010. Further functional enrichment analysis identified a series of DEGs enriched in transcriptional regulation, material transport, phytohormone biosynthesis and flavonoid biosynthesis. Moreover, the comparative analysis of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry verified that T010 treatment induced the changes in the contents of various phytohormones and flavonoids. This is the first report on the isolation of DSE fungi of the genus Anteaglonium from blueberry roots. Moreover, our results suggested that T010 colonization could result in a series of changes in cell metabolism, biosynthesis and signal pathways, thereby promoting plant growth. Particularly, the changes of phytohormone and flavonoid metabolism induced by T010 colonization might contribute to the promotion of blueberry growth. Our results will provide new insights into understanding of the interaction of DSE fungi and host plants, as well as the development and utilization of DSE preparations.

The dark septate endophyte Phialocephala sphaeroides confers growth fitness benefits and mitigates pathogenic effects of Heterobasidion on Norway spruce

“…However, LAR , as well as certain other important host defense genes ( CHS, F3H, ANS ), showed decreased transcript levels in fungal inoculated roots in this study. The downregulation of genes in the flavonoid biosynthesis was also found in blueberry inoculated with a plant growth-promoting DSE ( Wu et al. 2020 ).…”

Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Approaches Deepen Our Knowledge of Plant–Endophyte Interactions

“…A DSE strain, S16, promoted the growth of sweet cherry by regulating nitrate uptake and plant hormone biosynthesis pathways (Wu et al, 2021). Another DSE strain, T010, also positively influenced plant genes involved in phytohormone and flavonoid metabolism to enhance host plant growth (Wu et al, 2020). The presence of S. indica also No.…”

Growth-promoting effects of dark septate endophytes on the non-mycorrhizal plant Isatis indigotica under different water conditions

“…Several DSE species were found to produce IAA and to thereby promote plant growth and stress tolerance (Priyadharsini and Muthukumar 2017;Qiang et al 2019). Our results showed that DSE can participate in the adaptation of the non-mycorrhizal plant I. indigotica to drought by regulating its IAA metabolism (Han et al 2020;Wu et al 2020).…”