Epichloë endophyte interacts with saline-alkali stress to alter root phosphorus-solubilizing fungal and bacterial communities in tall fescue

Abstract

Epichloë endophytes, present in aboveground tissues, modify belowground microbial community. This study was conducted to investigate endophyte (Epichloë coenophialum) associated with tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) interacted with an altered saline-alkali stress (0, 200 and 400 mmol/l) to affect the belowground phosphorus solubilizing microorganisms including phosphorus solubilizing fungi (PSF) and bacteria (PSB). We found that a significant interaction between E. coenophialum and saline-alkali stress occurred in the diversity and composition of PSF in tall fescue roots. Under saline-alkali stress conditions (200 and 400 mmol/l), E. coenophialum significantly increased the PSF diversity and altered its composition in the roots, decreasing the relative abundance of dominant Cladosporium and increasing the relative abundance of Fusarium. However, there was no significant interaction between E. coenophialum and saline-alkali stress on the PSB diversity in tall fescue roots. E. coenophialum significantly reduced the diversity of PSB in the roots, and E. coenophialum effects did not depend on the saline-alkali stress treatment. Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that E. coenophialum presence increased soil available phosphorus concentration under saline-alkali stress primarily by affecting PSF diversity instead of the diversity and composition of PSB.

The growth promotion in endophyte symbiotic plants does not penalise the resistance to herbivores and bacterial microbiota

“…Alternatively, it is not possible to discard the possibility that the root microbiota could have been affected by the hormonal treatment (Tang et al, 2022). Epichloë AR37 influenced the phyllosphere bacterial microbiota, and this agrees with previously documented experimental results (e.g., Bastías, Bustos, et al, 2022; Liu, Tang, et al, 2022). This is also in agreement with another experimental findings that showed that Epichloë altered root‐associated bacterial communities and shoot‐ or root‐associated fungal communities (Jin, Wang, et al, 2023; Nissinen et al, 2019; Rasmussen et al, 2023; Zhong et al, 2018) (but see e.g., Dale & Newman, 2022).…”

“…(e.g., Bastías, Bustos, et al, 2022;Liu, Tang, et al, 2022). This is also in agreement with another experimental findings that showed that Epichloë altered root-associated bacterial communities and shoot-or root-associated fungal communities (Jin, Wang, et al, 2023;Nissinen et al, 2019;Rasmussen et al, 2023;Zhong et al, 2018) (but see e.g., Dale & Newman, 2022).…”

“…Libraries for sequencing were prepared by Macrogen Inc. using the primers 799F: AACMGGATTAGATACCCKG and 1193R: ACGTCATCCCCACCTTCC. These primers have been frequently used in metabarcoding studies and are highly specific for amplifying bacterial sequences in grasses (Liu, Tang, et al, 2022; Xia et al, 2023).…”

Microbial Community Shifts in Tea Plant Rhizosphere under Seawater Stress: Enrichment of Beneficial Taxa

“…Plant root systems are surrounded by a diverse microbiome, attracted by specific nutrients, and chosen under specific conditions to form a strong symbiosis with the host plant [16]. Previous studies have indicated that mycorrhizal fungi may work together with phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria to improve plant growth [17][18][19]. On the other hand, higher levels of denitrification and nitrification genes in degraded meadows are associated with an increased risk of soil nitrogen depletion, where highly active microorganisms play a role in accelerating nutrient loss [20].…”