Plant–Fungal Interactions

Abstract

The interactions between plants and fungi may have either beneficial or detrimental effects on the host plants and give rise to various changes in both the plant and the fungus. Fungal plant pathogens are economically important because of the threat they pose to the production and yield of agricultural crops. Some fungi are pathogenic and have detrimental effects on the plant, whereas some fungi like mycorrhizae are mutualistic. The mutualistic fungi not only improve the defense mechanisms of the host, but also improve the nutrient uptake by the host plant. Several fungi utilize species-specific signals to grow tropically toward stomata or plant roots. Fungi colonize the plants by secreting several bioactive molecules like peptide effectors, enzymes, and secondary metabolites. Cellulolytic enzymes secreted by fungal pathogens cause softening and disintegration of cell wall material. The plant’s innate immune system recognizes all the fungi that colonize them. It has been shown that multidrug-resistant transporters in fungi protect them from antifungal phytotoxins produced by the plants. Reduction or prevention of fungal plant diseases depends on resistant crop cultivars or treatment with fungicides. Plant–fungal interactions should be known to understand the mechanisms of plant diseases caused by fungi and their prevention, and to improve plant productivity. Innovative methods like CRISPR CAS 9 and proteomics are useful for further understanding.