Abstract
Many root fungal endophytes inhabiting forest trees have potential impact on the health and disease progression of certain tree species. Hence, the screening of root endophytes for their biocontrol abilities is relevant for their potential to protect their hosts against invaders. The aim of this research is to screen for the potential inhibitory effects of selected conifer root endophytes during interaction, in vitro, with the root rot pathogen, Heterobasidion parviporum. Here, we introduce a guideline that facilitates the use of root fungal endophytes as biocontrol agents. We isolated fungal root endophytes from eight different conifers. These root fungal endophytes were evaluated for their antagonism against the root rot pathogen, H. parviporum, by means of paired-culture antagonism assays. We determined the antagonism of the isolated root fungal endophytes to elucidate potential biocontrol applications. For the analysis, a software package in R was developed. Endophyte candidates with antagonistic potential were identified.
Highlights
Endophytes are organisms that, at some stage in their lifecycle, colonize a portion of a plant’s tissue internally without causing any visible disease symptoms [1,2,3,4]
Α/β < 1, and endophyte, α/β < 1: There is likely no interaction at all between the root endophytes and the pathogen in the cases described by this quadrant as both spherical indices are less than 1; this likely indicates purely natural growth with no antagonistic effects taking place
This study has identified a variety of dark septate endophytes’ (DSEs) and non-DSE root endophytes from coniferous hosts, including undiscovered root fungal endophyte diversity
Summary
Endophytes are organisms that, at some stage in their lifecycle, colonize a portion of a plant’s tissue internally without causing any visible disease symptoms [1,2,3,4]. In the context of forest pathology, the most beneficial aspect of endophytes is the production of unique secondary metabolites, which may limit pathogen growth [6,7,8,16,17]. Terhonen et al [8] found that metabolites extracted from liquid cultures of root endophytes, Phialocephala sphareoides and Cryptosporiopsis sp., inhibit the growth of several plant pathogens (Heterobasidion parviporum, Phytophtora pini, and Botrytis cinerea). Fungal endophytes can decrease the infections of pathogens in their host roots, which can be observed in a study conducted by Tellenbach and Sieber [6], who showed that some strains of Phialocephala subalbina could reduce disease severity caused by the two oomycete root rot pathogens, Elongisporangium undulatum and Phytophtora plurivora, in Norway spruce seedlings. Terhonen et al [8] demonstrated that the root endophyte, P
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
