Abstract
BackgroundAnthurium andraeanum, an important ornamental flower, has to go through a growth-delaying period after transfer from tissue culture to soil, which requires time and extra costs. Furthermore, during this period, the plantlets are highly susceptible to bacterial infections, which results in impaired development and severe losses. Here, we aimed to address whether application of the endophytic fungus, Piriformospora indica protects the A. andraeanum root system during the critical propagation period, and whether P. indica reduce the mortality rate by stimulating the host’s resistance against diseases.ResultsWe demonstrate that P. indica shortens the recovery period of Anthurium, promotes growth and confers disease resistance. The beneficial effect of P. indica results in faster elongation of Anthurium roots early in the interaction. P. indica-colonized plants absorb more phosphorus and exhibit higher photosynthesis rates than uncolonized control plants. Moreover, higher activities of stress-related enzymes, of jasmonic acid levels and mRNA levels of jasmonic acid-responsive genes suggest that the fungus prepares the plant to respond more efficiently to potentially upcoming threats, including bacterial wilt.ConclusionThese results suggest that P. indica is a helpful symbiont for promoting Anthurium rooting and development. All our evidences are sufficient to support the disease resistance conferred by P. indica through the plant-fungal symbiosis. Furthermore, it implicates that P. indica has strong potential as bio-fertilizer for utilization in ornamental plant cultivation.
Highlights
Anthurium andraeanum, an important ornamental flower, has to go through a growth-delaying period after transfer from tissue culture to soil, which requires time and extra costs
It has been suggested that colonization and growth promotion by P. indica are independent of plant common symbiotic genes, which rely on different host pathway [8,9,10]
We propose whether P. indica protects the A. andraeanum root system during the critical propagation period, and whether the endophyte can be used to reduce the mortality rate by stimulating the host’s resistance against diseases and other threats during this period
Summary
An important ornamental flower, has to go through a growth-delaying period after transfer from tissue culture to soil, which requires time and extra costs. Lin et al BMC Plant Biology (2019) 19:40 promotes nutrient uptake into the hosts [5, 6], promotes growth [7] and the overall performance of the plants [8, 9] In this context, it has been suggested that colonization and growth promotion by P. indica are independent of plant common symbiotic genes, which rely on different host pathway [8,9,10]. It has been suggested that colonization and growth promotion by P. indica are independent of plant common symbiotic genes, which rely on different host pathway [8,9,10] It stimulates the resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses [8, 11]. The bigger and stronger plantlets contain higher jasmonic acid (JA) levels and the vulnerable plantlets become more resistant to pathogen attack
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