Hongos endófitos antárticos como herramienta para la reintroducción de especies nativas en zonas áridas

Abstract

SUMMARYEcological restoration is the deliberate action that speeds recovery from a degraded system by direct or indirect human intervention. Xerophytic formations are among the most degraded ecosystems where low water availability makes reintroduction plans unsuccessful and extremely expensive. Roots inoculation with endophytic fungi has been reported as a successful strategy to maintain or improve the ecophysiological performance and survival in different species of shrubs and trees. In harsh environments, endophytes have been shown to provide benefits in terms of survival and growth for their associated vegetation. In this study, we showed that inoculation with endophytes isolated from plants growing in Antarctica improve survival and water use efficiency for irrigation on native species of xerophytic formations: Flourensia thurifera, Senna cumingii and Puya berteroniana. Overall, the presence of endophytes improved survival of all native species. Furthermore, the presence of endophytes improved water use efficiency for irrigation, reaching higher percentages of survival in plants with a reduction in the added water. The application of Antarctic endophytes could be considered a successful strategy for future projects and reintroduction programs in arid and semi-arid zones of Chile.Key words: endophytes, water use efficiency, xerophytic formations, restoration. RESUMENLa restauración ecológica es la actividad deliberada que acelera la recuperación de un sistema degradado por acción directa o indirecta de la intervención humana. Las zonas xerofíticas están entre los ecosistemas más degradados donde la baja disponibilidad hídrica hace que los planes de reintroducción sean poco exitosos y extremadamente costosos. La aplicación de hongos endófitos a raíces ha sido reportada como una exitosa estrategia para mantener o mejorar el desempeño ecofisiológico y supervivencia en diferentes especies de arbustos y árboles. En ambientes climáticamente extremos, los endófitos han mostrado proporcionar beneficios en términos de supervivencia y crecimiento a la vegetación que se asocia a ellos. En el presente trabajo mostramos como la inoculación con endófitos aislados desde plantas creciendo en la Antártica mejoran la supervivencia y eficiencia en el uso del agua para el riego en especies nativas de las formaciones xerofíticas: Flourensia thurifera, Senna cumingii y Puya berteroniana. En general, los resultados muestran que la presencia de endófitos mejoró la supervivencia de las tres especies nativas. Por otro lado, la presencia de endófitos mejoró la eficiencia en el uso del agua para el riego, permitiendo alcanzar altos porcentajes de supervivencia en plantas con una reducción en el agua requerida. Los resultados preliminares obtenidos en este estudio sugieren que la aplicación de endófitos antárticos podría ser considerada como una estrategia exitosa para proyectos futuros y programas de reintroducción en zonas áridas y semi-áridas de Chile.Palabras clave: endófitos, eficiencia en el uso del agua, formaciones xerofíticas, r...

What can possibly go wrong?: The risks of introducing soil microorganisms from Antarctica into South America

“…Fardella et al (2014) suggest that one of the endophytic fungal species that they introduced might increase plant growth and survival by reducing insect herbivory on roots. By providing protection only to some plants, introduced endophytes will change the competitive hierarchies of plants (Omacini 2014).…”

“…Fardella et al (2014) have found that the addition of root-associated Antarctic endophytic fungi can have positive effects by increasing or maintaining survivorship in three native plant species, facilitating establishment of native plants and restoration efforts in extreme climatic habitats. However, despite these benefits, we need to consider that the potential problems may far exceed the benefits of these new introductions.…”

“…The introduction of organisms that are poorly understood in terms of their ecological impacts, capacity to invade and social benefits is especially problematic. This is the case of the introduction of most soil organisms (Schwartz et al 2006, Vellinga et al 2009), including the translocation of endophytic fungal species from Antarctica to South America proposed by Fardella et al (2014) in a recent issue of Bosque.…”

“…However, despite these benefits, we need to consider that the potential problems may far exceed the benefits of these new introductions. In the case of Fardella et al (2014), the introduction has already taken place as part of the research program. Hence this is a critical debate to resolve before further introductions from Antarctica take place.…”

“…The goal of this article is to discuss potential problems of the introduction of endophytic fungi from Antarctica as recently undertaken by Fardella et al (2014) to promote the establishment of native plants in areas with high water stress in the north of Chile. Fardella et al (2014) have found that the addition of root-associated Antarctic endophytic fungi can have positive effects by increasing or maintaining survivorship in three native plant species, facilitating establishment of native plants and restoration efforts in extreme climatic habitats.…”