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Fungal Endophytes in Agriculture
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Fungal Endophytes in Agriculture

A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X). This special issue belongs to the section "Fungi in Agriculture and Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2024) | Viewed by 16174

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Cristian Atala

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaiso 2340000, Chile
Interests: plant–fungi interactions; functional plant ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Agriculture currently faces several challenges endangering food security, including an increased food demand, a reduction in arable land, climate change, pests, and desertification. We depend on agrochemicals and generic engineering to help crops cope with stressful conditions. However, there is a growing public awareness and opposition to some of these practices. This has led to the search for other, more environmentally friendly biotechnological tools to increase stress tolerance and productivity. In recent years, the fungal endophytes found in plants have received much attention as beneficial organisms that can increase plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. They can additionally establish successful associations with other plant species, including crops. Given the recent advancements in this area, the aim of this Special Issue is to demonstrate how fungal endophytes represent a key biotechnological tool for agriculture, especially considering the abovementioned global challenges, and the putative mechanisms involved in their ability to increase their hosts’ stress tolerance.

Possible topics:

  • Role of fungal endophytes in abiotic stress tolerance;
  • Fungal endophytes and their effect on plant defense mechanisms involved in the fungal endophyte–plant interaction;
  • Fungal endophytes for increasing crop productivity;
  • Public perception of fungal endophytes in agriculture.

Prof. Dr. Cristian Atala
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fungal endophytes
  • biotechnological tools
  • stress tolerance
  • plant–fungi interactions
  • crops

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 3827 KiB  
Article
Growth Promotion of Rice and Arabidopsis thaliana by Volatile Organic Compounds Produced by Endophytic Clonostachys Species
by Hui Chen, Jin Xu, Dengke Shao, Chunfang Zhao, Xiaohong Xu, Xihui Xu and Chen Chen
J. Fungi 2024, 10(11), 754; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10110754 - 30 Oct 2024
Viewed by 463
Abstract
Plant–endophytic fungi are widely distributed and highly diverse, with many of them capable of influencing plant growth and development, which is related to the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). While certain fungal VOCs have been found to stimulate plant growth, others exhibit [...] Read more.
Plant–endophytic fungi are widely distributed and highly diverse, with many of them capable of influencing plant growth and development, which is related to the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). While certain fungal VOCs have been found to stimulate plant growth, others exhibit inhibitory effects. Importantly, the impact of fungal VOCs extends beyond host plants to affect non-host plants as well. In this study, we isolated two plant–endophytic fungi, Clonostachys sp. CC1 and Clonostachys sp. CC2, from healthy rice roots. These strains were co-cultured with both rice and Arabidopsis thaliana. Our results demonstrated that both strains significantly enhanced the growth of both rice and A. thaliana. Specifically, they increased the length and biomass of rice and A. thaliana seedlings, as well as the chlorophyll content, while decreasing the H2O2 content in the leaves of both plants. The VOCs produced by these strains were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which identified a total of 10 main ingredients. Among these compounds, 1-pentanol, ethylbenzene, and dimethyl phthalate inhibited the growth of rice while promoting the growth of A. thaliana, highlighting the variability in the effects of these compounds on different plant species and the complexity of plant–fungal interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Endophytes in Agriculture)
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12 pages, 1754 KiB  
Article
Alien Chromatin from Hordeeae Grasses Enhances the Compatibility of Epichloë Endophyte Symbiosis with the Hexaploid Wheat Triticum aestivum
by Wayne R. Simpson, Hisashi Tsujimoto, David E. Hume and Richard D. Johnson
J. Fungi 2024, 10(6), 384; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10060384 - 27 May 2024
Viewed by 768
Abstract
The inoculation of Epichloë endophytes into modern cereals, resulting in systemic infection, depends on the genetics of both the host and the endophyte strain deployed. Until very recently, the only modern cereal to have been infected with Epichloë, in which normal phenotype [...] Read more.
The inoculation of Epichloë endophytes into modern cereals, resulting in systemic infection, depends on the genetics of both the host and the endophyte strain deployed. Until very recently, the only modern cereal to have been infected with Epichloë, in which normal phenotype seed-transmitted associations were achieved, is rye (Secale cereale). Whilst minor in-roads have been achieved in infecting hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum), the phenotypes of these associations have all been extremely poor, including host death and stunting. To identify host genetic factors that may impact the compatibility of Epichloë infection in wheat, wheat–alien chromosome addition/substitution lines were inoculated with Epichloë, and the phenotypes of infected plants were assessed. Symbioses were identified whereby infected wheat plants were phenotypically like uninfected controls. These plants completed their full lifecycle, including the vertical transmission of Epichloë into the next generation of grain, and represent the first ever compatible wheat–Epichloë associations to be created. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Endophytes in Agriculture)
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12 pages, 2369 KiB  
Article
Antifungal Activity of Menisporopsin A against Relevant Plant Pathogens
by Candelario Rodriguez, Masiel Barrios-Jaén, Luis C. Mejía and Marcelino Gutiérrez
J. Fungi 2024, 10(6), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10060381 - 27 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1022
Abstract
Current agrochemicals used in crop farming mainly consist of synthetic compounds with harmful effects on the environment and human health. Crop-associated fungal endophytes, which play many ecological roles including defense against pathogens, represent a promising source for bioactive and ecologically safer molecules in [...] Read more.
Current agrochemicals used in crop farming mainly consist of synthetic compounds with harmful effects on the environment and human health. Crop-associated fungal endophytes, which play many ecological roles including defense against pathogens, represent a promising source for bioactive and ecologically safer molecules in agrochemical discovery. The methanolic extract of the endophyte Menisporopsis sp. LCM 1078 was evaluated in vitro against the plant pathogens Boeremia exigua, Calonectria variabilis, Colletotrichum theobromicola, Colletotrichum tropicale, and Mycena cytricolor. Bioassay-guided isolation using chromatographic techniques followed by detailed chemical characterization by NMR and mass spectrometry led to the identification of menisporopsin A, which showed inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner against the five fungal pathogens including an endophytic strain (Colletotrichum tropicale), with MIC values in the range of 0.63–10.0 μg/mL showing a potency equivalent to the broadly employed agrochemical mancozeb. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Endophytes in Agriculture)
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16 pages, 3313 KiB  
Article
Biocontrol Potential of Trichoderma Ghanense and Trichoderma Citrinoviride toward Pythium aphanidermatum
by Badriya Khalfan Al-Shuaibi, Elham Ahmed Kazerooni, Dua’a Al-Maqbali, Moza Al-Kharousi, Mohamed N. Al-Yahya’ei, Shah Hussain, Rethinasamy Velazhahan and Abdullah Mohammed Al-Sadi
J. Fungi 2024, 10(4), 284; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10040284 - 12 Apr 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1827
Abstract
Pythium-induced damping-off of cucumber is a major constraint to cucumber production in different parts of the world. Although chemical fungicides are used for managing this disease, they have many drawbacks to the environment. The ability of the antagonistic fungi isolated from the [...] Read more.
Pythium-induced damping-off of cucumber is a major constraint to cucumber production in different parts of the world. Although chemical fungicides are used for managing this disease, they have many drawbacks to the environment. The ability of the antagonistic fungi isolated from the rhizosphere and endosphere of Dactyloctenium robecchii and Moraea sisyrinchium in the control of soilborne pathogen Pythium aphanidermatum was inspected. Native Trichoderma isolates, Trichoderma ghanense and Trichoderma citrinoviride, were isolated from plant stem and soil samples collected from Al-Seeb, Oman. Using a dual culture technique, the antagonistic activity of the fungal isolates against P. aphanidermatum was examined in vitro. Among Trichoderma isolates, T. ghanense was more efficient in restraining the mycelial growth of P. aphanidermatum, causing an inhibition percentage of 44.6%. Further, T. citrinoviride induced significantly lower cessation of P. aphanidermatum mycelial growth (31.3%). Microscopic and electrolyte leakage inspection of the pathogen mycelia depicted extreme morphological malformations in their mycelium, which can be attributed to the antifungal metabolites of antagonists. Greenhouse studies demonstrated the effectivity of T. ghanense in controlling Pythium damping-off of cucumber plants, where the number of surviving plants was over 90% when the biocontrol agents were used compared to 0 in the control plants. Furthermore, treatment of the plants with the antagonists promoted growth characteristics of plants compared to uninoculated plants. This included improvements in shoot and root lengths, leaf length and width, and dry weight. These findings suggest that T. ghanense and T. citrinoviride can be developed as alternatives to synthetic chemical fungicides to manage soilborne pathogens of cucumber. This research is also the first to clarify the biocontrol ability of T. citrinoviride and T. ghanense against cucumber damping-off caused by P. aphanidermatum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Endophytes in Agriculture)
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19 pages, 3683 KiB  
Article
Isolation and Identification of Acer truncatum Endophytic Fungus Talaromyces verruculosus and Evaluation of Its Effects on Insoluble Phosphorus Absorption Capacity and Growth of Cucumber Seedlings
by Qingpan Zeng, Jiawei Dong, Xiaoru Lin, Xiaofu Zhou and Hongwei Xu
J. Fungi 2024, 10(2), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10020136 - 8 Feb 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1781
Abstract
The symbiosis between endophytic fungi and plants can promote the absorption of potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients by plants. Phosphorus is one of the indispensable nutrient elements for plant growth and development. However, the content of available phosphorus in soil is very [...] Read more.
The symbiosis between endophytic fungi and plants can promote the absorption of potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients by plants. Phosphorus is one of the indispensable nutrient elements for plant growth and development. However, the content of available phosphorus in soil is very low, which limits the growth of plants. Phosphorus-soluble microorganisms can improve the utilization rate of insoluble phosphorus. In this study, Talaromyces verruculosus (T. verruculosus), a potential phosphorus-soluble fungus, was isolated from Acer truncatum, a plant with strong stress resistance, and its phosphorus-soluble ability in relation to cucumber seedlings under different treatment conditions was determined. In addition, the morphological, physiological, and biochemical indexes of the cucumber seedlings were assessed. The results show that T. verruculosus could solubilize tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and lecithin, and the solubilization effect of lecithin was higher than that of TCP. After the application of T. verruclosus, the leaf photosynthetic index increased significantly. The photosynthetic system damage caused by low phosphorus stress was alleviated, and the root morphological indexes of cucumber seedlings were increased. The plant height, stem diameter, and leaf area of cucumber seedlings treated with T. verruculosus were also significantly higher than those without treatment. Therefore, it was shown that T. verruculosus is a beneficial endophytic fungus that can promote plant growth and improve plant stress resistance. This study will provide a useful reference for further research on endophytic fungi to promote growth and improve plant stress resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Endophytes in Agriculture)
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28 pages, 2379 KiB  
Article
Fungal Endophytes: Discovering What Lies within Some of Canada’s Oldest and Most Resilient Grapevines
by Shawkat Ali, A. Harrison Wright, Joey B. Tanney, Justin B. Renaud and Mark W. Sumarah
J. Fungi 2024, 10(2), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10020105 - 26 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1826
Abstract
Plant diseases and pests reduce crop yields, accounting for global crop losses of 30% to 50%. In conventional agricultural production systems, these losses are typically controlled by applying chemical pesticides. However, public pressure is mounting to curtail agrochemical use. In this context, employing [...] Read more.
Plant diseases and pests reduce crop yields, accounting for global crop losses of 30% to 50%. In conventional agricultural production systems, these losses are typically controlled by applying chemical pesticides. However, public pressure is mounting to curtail agrochemical use. In this context, employing beneficial endophytic microorganisms is an increasingly attractive alternative to the use of conventional chemical pesticides in agriculture. A multitude of fungal endophytes are naturally present in plants, producing enzymes, small peptides, and secondary metabolites due to their bioactivity, which can protect hosts from pathogens, pests, and abiotic stresses. The use of beneficial endophytic microorganisms in agriculture is an increasingly attractive alternative to conventional pesticides. The aim of this study was to characterize fungal endophytes isolated from apparently healthy, feral wine grapes in eastern Canada that have grown without agrochemical inputs for decades. Host plants ranged from unknown seedlings to long-lost cultivars not widely propagated since the 1800s. HPLC-MS was used to identify unique endophyte-derived chemical compounds in the host plants, while dual-culture competition assays showed a range in endophytes’ ability to suppress the mycelial growth of Botrytis, which is typically controlled in viticulture with pesticides. Twelve of the most promising fungal endophytes isolated were identified using multilocus sequencing and morphology, while DNA barcoding was employed to identify some of their host vines. These fungal endophyte isolates, which consisted of both known and putative novel strains, belonged to seven genera in six families and five orders of Ascomycota. Exploring the fungal endophytes in these specimens may yield clues to the vines’ survival and lead to the discovery of novel biocontrol agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Endophytes in Agriculture)
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19 pages, 8021 KiB  
Article
The Potential of Endophytic Fungi for Enhancing the Growth and Accumulation of Phenolic Compounds and Anthocyanin in Maled Phai Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
by Thanawan Gateta, Sabaiporn Nacoon, Wasan Seemakram, Jindarat Ekprasert, Piyada Theerakulpisut, Jirawat Sanitchon, Nakarin Suwannarach and Sophon Boonlue
J. Fungi 2023, 9(9), 937; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9090937 - 16 Sep 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2257
Abstract
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most popular cereal crops, being consumed by almost half of the world’s population. Among several cultivars widely distributed in Thailand, Maled Phai is a Thai pigmented-upland rice with exceptionally high nutritional value and high [...] Read more.
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most popular cereal crops, being consumed by almost half of the world’s population. Among several cultivars widely distributed in Thailand, Maled Phai is a Thai pigmented-upland rice with exceptionally high nutritional value and high demand in the local Thai market. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of producing plant growth-promoting properties (PGP) and enhancing the accumulation of phytochemicals in Maled Phai rice seeds of endophytic fungi isolated from upland black rice. Among a total of 56 isolates, the 4 most effective PGP isolates were identified as Trichoderma zelobreve PBMP16, Talaromyces pinophilus PBMP28, Aspergillus flavus KKMP34, and Trichoderma sp. PBMP4 based on their morphological characteristics and multigene (ITS, rpb2, tef-1, CaM, and BenA) phylogenetic analyses. These four endophytic fungi could promote plant growth parameters under greenhouse conditions. Outstandingly, upland rice inoculated with Tr. zelobreve PBMP16 had a significant increase in total seed weight, root length, phenolic compounds, anthocyanin, antioxidants, and N uptake, which were higher than those of the noninoculated control, and even better than the chemical fertilizer. Overall, this report shows that endophytic fungi efficiently promoted growth and increased the phenolic compounds, anthocyanin, and antioxidants of Maled Phai rice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Endophytes in Agriculture)
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Review

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22 pages, 3774 KiB  
Review
Importance of Dark Septate Endophytes in Agriculture in the Face of Climate Change
by Victoria Huertas, Alicia Jiménez, Fernando Diánez, Rabab Chelhaoui and Mila Santos
J. Fungi 2024, 10(5), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10050329 - 30 Apr 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1927
Abstract
Climate change is a notable challenge for agriculture as it affects crop productivity and yield. Increases in droughts, salinity, and soil degradation are some of the major consequences of climate change. The use of microorganisms has emerged as an alternative to mitigate the [...] Read more.
Climate change is a notable challenge for agriculture as it affects crop productivity and yield. Increases in droughts, salinity, and soil degradation are some of the major consequences of climate change. The use of microorganisms has emerged as an alternative to mitigate the effects of climate change. Among these microorganisms, dark septate endophytes (DSEs) have garnered increasing attention in recent years. Dark septate endophytes have shown a capacity for mitigating and reducing the harmful effects of climate change in agriculture, such as salinity, drought, and the reduced nutrient availability in the soil. Various studies show that their association with plants helps to reduce the harmful effects of abiotic stresses and increases the nutrient availability, enabling the plants to thrive under adverse conditions. In this study, the effect of DSEs and the underlying mechanisms that help plants to develop a higher tolerance to climate change were reviewed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Endophytes in Agriculture)
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15 pages, 2018 KiB  
Review
Research Progress of Piriformospora indica in Improving Plant Growth and Stress Resistance to Plant
by Liang Li, Yu Feng, Fuyan Qi and Ruiying Hao
J. Fungi 2023, 9(10), 965; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9100965 - 26 Sep 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3446
Abstract
Piriformospora indica (Serendipita indica), a mycorrhizal fungus, has garnered significant attention in recent decades owing to its distinctive capacity to stimulate plant growth and augment plant resilience against environmental stressors. As an axenically cultivable fungus, P. indica exhibits a remarkable ability [...] Read more.
Piriformospora indica (Serendipita indica), a mycorrhizal fungus, has garnered significant attention in recent decades owing to its distinctive capacity to stimulate plant growth and augment plant resilience against environmental stressors. As an axenically cultivable fungus, P. indica exhibits a remarkable ability to colonize varieties of plants and promote symbiotic processes by directly influencing nutrient acquisition and hormone metabolism. The interaction of plant and P. indica raises hormone production including ethylene (ET), jasmonic acid (JA), gibberellin (GA), salicylic acid (SA), and abscisic acid (ABA), which also promotes root proliferation, facilitating improved nutrient acquisition, and subsequently leading to enhanced plant growth and productivity. Additionally, the plant defense system was employed by P. indica colonization and the defense genes associated with oxidation resistance were activated subsequently. This fungus-mediated defense response elicits an elevation in the enzyme activity of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), and, finally, bolsters plant tolerance. Furthermore, P. indica colonization can initiate local and systemic immune responses against fungal and viral plant diseases through signal transduction mechanisms and RNA interference by regulating defense gene expression and sRNA secretion. Consequently, P. indica can serve diverse roles such as plant promoter, biofertilizer, bioprotectant, bioregulator, and bioactivator. A comprehensive review of recent literature will facilitate the elucidation of the mechanistic foundations underlying P. indica–crop interactions. Such discussions will significantly contribute to an in-depth comprehension of the interaction mechanisms, potential applications, and the consequential effects of P. indica on crop protection, enhancement, and sustainable agricultural practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Endophytes in Agriculture)
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