Dark Septate Research Articles

Importance of Dark Septate Endophytes in Agriculture in the Face of Climate Change.

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.

Prevalent arbuscular mycorrhizae in roots and highly variable mycobiome in leaves of epiphytic subtropical fern Ophioderma pendulum.

Endophytic and mycorrhizal fungi are crucial in facilitating plant nutrition acquisition and stress tolerance. In epiphytic habitats, plants face nutrition and water stress, but their roots are mostly nonmycorrhizal and especially lacking in arbuscular mycorrhizal associations. Ophioderma pendulum is an epiphytic fern with a partially mycoheterotrophic lifestyle, likely heavily reliant on symbiotic fungi. To characterize fungal associations in the sporophyte of O. pendulum, we focused on leaves and roots of O. pendulum, seeking to reveal the fungal communities in these organs. Roots and leaves from O. pendulum in a subtropical forest were examined microscopically to observe the morphology of fungal structures and determine the percentage of various fungal structures in host tissues. Fungal composition was profiled using metabarcoding techniques that targeted ITS2 of the nuclear ribosomal DNA. Roots were consistently colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycota), especially Acaulospora. Unlike previous findings on epiphytic ferns, dark septate endophytes were rare in O. pendulum roots. Leaves were predominantly colonized by Ascomycota fungi, specifically the classes Dothideomycetes (46.88%), Eurotiomycetes (11.51%), Sordariomycetes (6.23%), and Leotiomycetes (6.14%). Across sampling sites, fungal community compositions were similar in the roots but differed significantly in the leaves. Ophioderma pendulum maintains stable, single-taxon-dominant communities in the roots, primarily featuring arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, whereas the leaves may harbor opportunistic fungal colonizers. Our study underlines the significance of mycorrhizal fungi in the adaptation of epiphytic ferns.

Growth-promoting effects of Aspergillus Elegans and the dark septate endophyte (DSE) Periconia macrospinosa on cucumber.

Cucurbits are subject to a variety of stresses that limit their sustainable production, despite their important role in ensuring food security and nutrition. Plant stress tolerance can be enhanced through fungal endophytes. In this study, two endophytes isolated from wild plant roots, were tested to determine their effect on the growth promotion of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the designated isolates were Aspergillus elegans and Periconia macrospinosa. The results of the Plant Growth Promoting Fungal (PGPF) tests showed that both Aspergillus elegans and Periconia macrospinosa have a zinc solubilizing capacity, especially A. elegans, with a solubilization index higher than 80%. Also, both have a high salt tolerance (10-15% NaCl for P. macrospinosa and A. elegans, respectively), cellulolytic activity, and inhibition indices of 40-64.53%. A. elegans and P. macrospinosa had antagonistic effects against the cucumber phytopathogenic fungi Verticillium dahliae and Fusarium oxysporum, respectively. However, A. elegans and P. macrospinosa didn't exhibit certain potential plant benefits, such as the production of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and phosphate solubilization. The chlorophyll content and growth parameters of two-month-old cucumber plants inoculated with the fungal species were significantly better than those of the controls (non-inoculated); the shoot dry weights of inoculated plants were increased by 138% and 170% for A. elegans and P. macrospinosa, respectively; and the root colonization by fungal endophytes has also been demonstrated. In addition to the fact that P. macrospinosa has long been known as PGPF, this is the first time that the ability of A. elegans to modulate host plant growth has been demonstrated, with the potential to be used as a biofertilizer in sustainable agriculture.

Isolation and characterization of dematiaceous endophytic fungi isolated from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) roots and their potential use as phosphate solubilizers

Phosphorus is an element with limited availability in the soil. For this reason, to supply phosphorus to crops, farmers depend on chemical fertilization, which affects the production costs and the environmental quality of the soil and water. However, this situation can be mitigated by using phosphorus-solubilizing fungi. Therefore, the objectives of this work were to identify seven dematiaceous endophytic fungi (Dark Septate Endophytes (DSE) and non-DSE), isolated from roots of a commercial barley crop, and to evaluate their characteristics and behavior in vitro regarding parameters that allow their description and potential use to make fertilizer use more efficient and thus reduce the amount of fertilizer required. The growth rate of each strain at different temperatures and pH values, and their ability to solubilize iron (FePO4), aluminum (AlPO4) and calcium (Ca3(PO4)2) phosphates were evaluated. The fungal isolates belonged to four orders: Pleosporales, Xylariales, Hypocreales and Chaetothyriales. The strains had their highest growth rate between 16°C and 30°C, and a great diversity of responses to the different pH values evaluated. Furthermore, all strains showed ability to solubilize Ca3(PO4)2, two to solubilize AlPO4, and one to solubilize FePO4. The diversity observed among the fungal isolates in terms of their response to pH, temperature, and media containing different insoluble phosphates suggests their adaptability to a wide range of environments, and makes them suitable for further studies aimed to determine their potentiality as biofertilizers.

Effects of root-colonizing fungi on pioneer Pinus thunbergii seedlings in primary successional volcanic mudflow on Kuchinoerabu Island, Japan.

Root-colonizing fungi, such as mycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophyte fungi, are often found on pioneer plant species during early primary succession. However, little is known about which fungal species are responsible for the establishment of pioneer plants when these symbionts colonize simultaneously. We investigated the root-colonizing fungal communities of Pinus thunbergii that established prior to lichens, bryophytes, and short-lived herbaceous plants in a primary successional volcanic mudflow site on Kuchinoerabu Island, Japan. We collected a total of 54 current-year and 1- to 2-year-old seedlings. The colonization of root fungi was evaluated by direct observation of key structures (e.g., mantle, arbuscule, microsclerotia, and hyphae) and molecular analysis. Of the 34 current-year seedlings collected, only 12 individuals were colonized by ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. By contrast, all 1- to 2-year-old seedlings were colonized by ECM fungi. Seedlings colonized by pine-specific ECM fungi, specifically Rhizopogon roseolus and Suillus granulatus, showed higher nitrogen and phosphorus contents in their needles compared to non-ECM seedlings. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophyte fungi were found in only two and three individuals, respectively. The high density of mycophagous deer on Kuchinoerabu-jima may contribute to the favored dispersal of ECM fungi over other root-colonizing fungi. In conclusion, the seedling establishment of P. thunbergii at the volcanic mudflow may be largely supported by ECM fungi, with negligible effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophytes.

Towards a Better Understanding of Melanins from Dark Septate Endophytes (DSEs): Their Variability, Synthesis Pathways and Biological Roles

Towards a Better Understanding of Melanins from Dark Septate Endophytes (DSEs): Their Variability, Synthesis Pathways and Biological Roles

The potential of dark septate endhophyte fungus from white jabon (Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser)

Endophytic fungi are one of the forest microbes that can be solutions for increasing the resistance of forest plants to environmental stress. Exploration and collection of endophytic fungi from the forest is important because the condition of the forest as a natural habitat for microbes has been disturbed due to degradation and deforestation. A potential plant species for forest and land rehabilitation is white jabon (Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser). The research objective was to isolate and characterize endophytic fungi and to obtain the dark septate endhophyte from the roots of the white jabon which have the potential to increase plant growth. The fungus was isolated by surface sterilization method and then characterized and identified morphologically. Pathogenicity test was carried out to determine the pathogenicity of the fungus. The results of the study found ten isolates. Most of the isolated fungi showed sterile mycelia with septate hyphae, so they were not identified morphologically. The isolate of CPGS 3 isolates probably belonged to the genus Aureobasidium sp. CPGS 3, CPKR 6, and CPPS 11 isolates are candidates for dark septate endophyte fungi which have the potential to promote plant growth and not become pathogens in chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa).

Isolation, structural elucidation, and biological activity of a novel isocoumarin from the dark septate endophytic fungus Phialocephala fortinii.

A novel isocoumarin was isolated from the mycelia of the dark septate endophytic fungus Phialocephala fortinii. The chemical structure was determined to be 8-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3,7-dimethyl-1H-2-benzopyran-1-one based on mass spectrometry, 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and 13C-NMR spectroscopic analyses, including 2D-NMR experiments. The isolated compound inhibited root growth of Arabidopsis thaliana, suggesting its potential as a plant growth regulator.

Colonization Patterns by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Dark Septate Endophytes in a Forest Ecosystem of the Municipality of Isidro Fabela, State of Mexico

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSEF) have such an influence on plant development and on the edaphological characteristics and nutrients available in the soil that changes in these communities can drive modifications in the biotic and abiotic variables of an ecosystem, demonstrating the synergetic between species. Given its relevance, the objective of this work was to determine the status of colonization in the roots of three representative herbaceous species of the understory of a community of Abies religiosa (Kunth Schltdl. et Cham.) and Pinus harwegii (Lindl), and to contrast the coexistence of colonizers in three conservation-disturbance scenarios that exemplify the vulnerability situations of a forest ecosystem. A tripartite AMF-HESO-plant interaction is reported by the occurrence of coenocytic hyphae, vesicles, septate hyphae, moniliform cells, and sclerotia. The values of arbuscular mycorrhization exceed 50% and are higher than those found for endophytes (15.7-64.5%). The colonization of both types of fungi, such as AMF sporulation (687 spores 50 g-1 soil in the reforested area), seems to be related to the microclimatic conditions resulting from soil use. The edaphological variables that allow inferring the colonization behavior correspond mainly to available phosphorus, calcium, pH, organic matter, and cation exchange capacity. It is concluded that soil properties, its use, and the type of plants are determinant in the establishment of fungal communities. However, more studies on HESO-plant interaction are needed.

The first report of dark septate endophytes from Indonesian Pinus merkusii and its symbiosis role as a plant growth promoter in nursery condition

Abstract. Akhir J, Herliyana EN, Surono, Budi SW. 2024. The first report of dark septate endophytes from Indonesian Pinus merkusii and its symbiosis role as a plant growth promoter in nursery condition. Biodiversitas 25: 312-321. To encourage the healthy growth of Pinus merkusii Jungh et de Vriese seedlings at the seedling stage, Dark Septate Endophytic (DSE) fungi were used as growth promoters. In this study, four DSE strains, i.e., Apls 1.5.3, Pls 32.1, Hs14.6a, and Hs14.6c isolated from P. merkusii roots, were tested for their ability to stimulate the growth of P. merkusii seedlings. After 14 weeks of incubation in nursery conditions, P. merkusii seedlings inoculated with four DSE strains experienced a higher increase in height and stem diameter when compared to the control treatment. Overall, the biomass results of P. merkusii seedlings treated with the DSE strains performed better than those of the control. Root colonization of P. merkusii seedlings showed that the 4 DSE strains significantly outperformed the control. The Hs14.6c strain outperformed the other strains and controls regarding nutrient (nitrogen) uptake. The findings of this study are the first to show that the DSE Apls 1.5.3 strain is similar to Cylindroccarpon, the Hs14.6a and Hs14.6c strains are similar to Cladophialophora sp., and the Pls 32.1 strain is similar to Oncopodiella trigonella based on identification results and phylogenetic trees and can be in symbiosis with seeds of P. merkusii, a pine species native to Indonesia.

Direct seeding of Ceiba pentandra and Leucaena leucocephala using seed briquette with AMF and DSE inoculations to support a green economy

This research is an alternative technology to support a green economy for environmental sustainability. This paper was performed to reveal the relation between seed briquettes inoculated with the fungi of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE) in direct seeding of C. pentandra and L. leucocephala seedlings on marginal land in Parungpanjang, Bogor, Indonesia. A randomized block design was used in this research with three blocks and found that seed briquettes with AMF and DSE inoculated have significantly influenced the survival of seedlings of both species 12 months after planting. Direct sowing with seed briquette inoculated with AMF (48%) produced the highest seedling survival in C. pentandra, followed by seed briquette injected with Dendrothyrium sp. CPP1.1.4 (44.5%) in L. leucocephala. In C. pentandra and L. leucocephala, seed briquettes increased seedling survival compared to direct sowing without briquettes. Seedling growth was considerably impacted by AMF and DSE inoculations in L. leucocephala but not in C. pentandra. AMF and DSE can improve the height and diameter of direct-seeded L. leucocephala seedlings. Our research found that using seed briquettes and applying DSE has a high potential for increasing the success of direct seeding in assisting various reforestation programs in Indonesia.

©Relationship between endophytic fungal diversity and colonization and soil factors of cultured blueberry roots in Guizhou Province, Southwest China.

Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) inhabit plant roots and soil in ecosystems and host plants worldwide. DSE colonization is influenced by cultivars, soil factors, and specific habitat conditions. The regular diversity of DSEs in blueberries in Guizhou, China, is still unclear. In this study, four cultivars (Gardenblue, Powderblue, O'Neal, and Legacy) in three areas (Gaopo, Majiang, and Fenggang) in Guizhou were used to identify DSEs by morphological and molecular biological methods and to clarify the relationship between DSE diversity and DSE colonization and soil factors of cultivated blueberries in Guizhou. The DSEs isolated from cultivated blueberry roots in 3 areas in Guizhou Province were different, belonging to 17 genera, and the dominant genera were Penicillium, Phialocephala, and Thozetella. DSEs isolated from Majiang belonged to 12 genera and 16 species, those from Gaopo belonged to 7 genera and 15 species, and those from Fenggang belonged to 5 genera and 7 species. Among the different blueberry varieties, 11 genera were isolated from O'Neal, 12 genera were isolated from Powderblue, 11 genera were isolated from Legacy and 13 genera were isolated from Gardenblue. Coniochaeta is endemic to O'Neal, Chaetomium and Curvularia are endemic to Powderblue, and Thielavia is endemic to Legacy. Correlation analysis showed that DSE diversity was significantly correlated with DSE colonization and soil factors.

Root-associated fungi and acquisitive root traits facilitate permafrost nitrogen uptake from long-term experimentally warmed tundra.

Root-associated fungi (RAF) and root traits regulate plant acquisition of nitrogen (N), which is limiting to growth in Arctic ecosystems. With anthropogenic warming, a new N source from thawing permafrost has the potential to change vegetation composition and increase productivity, influencing climate feedbacks. Yet, the impact of warming on tundra plant root traits, RAF, and access to permafrost N is uncertain. We investigated the relationships between RAF, species-specific root traits, and uptake of N from the permafrost boundary by tundra plants experimentally warmed for nearly three decades at Toolik Lake, Alaska. Warming increased acquisitive root traits of nonmycorrhizal and mycorrhizal plants. RAF community composition of ericoid (ERM) but not ectomycorrhizal (ECM) shrubs was impacted by warming and correlated with root traits. RAF taxa in the dark septate endophyte, ERM, and ECM guilds strongly correlated with permafrost N uptake for ECM and ERM shrubs. Overall, a greater proportion of variation in permafrost N uptake was related to root traits than RAF. Our findings suggest that warming Arctic ecosystems will result in interactions between roots, RAF, and newly thawed permafrost that may strongly impact feedbacks to the climate system through mechanisms of carbon and N cycling.

Kemampuan Kapang Dark Septate Endophyte dari Akar Tanaman Aren dalam Menghambat Ganoderma sp.

Ganoderma is a fungal pathogen that can cause rot disease at the base of plant stems. This disease threatens oil palm production, especially in Southeast Asia. Trichoderma sp. fungi can control Basal Stem Rot disease in Ganoderma boninense but are ineffective. One solution that can be done to inhibit the growth of Ganoderma sp. is by using Dark Septate Endophyte (DSE) fungi. Research on DSE isolated from sugar palm (Arenga pinnata Merr.) has not been widely studied. The sugar palm plant is related to the oil palm plant in the Arecaceae family. This study aims to analyze the potential of DSE fungi from the roots of the sugar palm plant in inhibiting the pathogenic fungi Ganoderma sp. The stages of this research were isolation and purification of DSE fungi from sugar palm roots, DSE antagonists against Ganoderma sp., and DSE volatile compounds against Ganoderma sp. The results of isolation and purification showed that there were 18 DSE isolates grouped based on morphological similarities in the form of DSE fungi colony colors, where there were ten fungi isolates representing ten different colony colors, namely, isolate A.3.1 (1); A.3.2 (2); A.4.1 (2); A.4.1 (3); A.4.2; A.5.2; A.5.3; A.6.1(a); A.6.2(a); A.6.4(a). A total of 8 fungi isolates were tested for antagonists and volatile compound testing on Ganoderma sp. The results of the antagonist test showed that DSE A4.1(2) had the highest percentage of inhibition with a value of 36.12%, and isolated A6.2 had the highest percentage of inhibition and the lowest with a value of 15.65%. The testing results for volatile compounds showed that the isolate of DSE A4.2 had the highest percentage of inhibition against Ganoderma sp. at 18.25%. In comparison, the lowest inhibition percentage was obtained from DSE A5.2 fungi isolate with a value of 0.43%.
 
 Keywords: dark septate endophyte, ganoderma, sugar palm (Arenga pinnata Merr.)

Pervasive associations between dark septate endophytic fungi with tree root and soil microbiomes across Europe

Trees interact with a multitude of microbes through their roots and root symbionts such as mycorrhizal fungi and root endophytes. Here, we explore the role of fungal root symbionts as predictors of the soil and root-associated microbiomes of widespread broad-leaved trees across a European latitudinal gradient. Our results suggest that, alongside factors such as climate, soil, and vegetation properties, root colonization by ectomycorrhizal, arbuscular mycorrhizal, and dark septate endophytic fungi also shapes tree-associated microbiomes. Notably, the structure of root and soil microbiomes across our sites is more strongly and consistently associated with dark septate endophyte colonization than with mycorrhizal colonization and many abiotic factors. Root colonization by dark septate endophytes also has a consistent negative association with the relative abundance and diversity of nutrient cycling genes. Our study not only indicates that root-symbiotic interactions are an important factor structuring soil communities and functions in forest ecosystems, but also that the hitherto less studied dark septate endophytes are likely to be central players in these interactions.

Mineral fertilization impacts microbial activity and endophytic fungi but not microbial biomass in semiarid grasslands

Applications of mineral fertilizer to grasslands have become more frequent in recent decades to increase forage production. However, the impacts of mineral fertilizer on the soil microbiome is poorly understood in cold semiarid grassland ecosystems of Southern Patagonia, Argentina. Therefore, our objective was to analyze experimentally the influence of mineral nutrient fertilization (N, P, K, and NPK in combination) on soil microbial community attributes, such as microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN), soil basal respiration (SBR), microbial metabolic coefficients, the colonization of endophytic fungi such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, and dark septate endophytes (DSE), and aboveground plant productivity. Mineral fertilization with macronutrients (N, P, K, and NPK) decreased the SBR, qCO2, AM fungi and DSE fungi, but did not generate changes in MBC and MBN. The magnitude of these responses depends on years after fertilization. We found that soil microbiome was strongly dependent on a range of biotic and abiotic factors, such as growing season precipitation, aboveground plant biomass the relationship between the microbial biomass and microbial respiration, and between endophytic fungi and plants. This work improved our understanding of the soil microorganisms’ response to mineral fertilizer application and provides new insights into soil nutrient dynamics and ecosystem functioning.

Fostering Growth in Cinnamomum kanehirae Cuttings: The Beneficial Role of Dark Septate Endophytes in Forest Nursery Management

Root development is critical to successful establishment after seedlings are out-planted on a forest restoration site. However, the restoration of an endangered Cinnamomum kanehirae using cuttings was limited by the lack of axial roots. Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) are an important group of asexual filamentous ascomycetous fungi and could promote the performance of host plants. In the current study, we explored the effects of four DSE strains (Melnikomyces sp., Acrocalymma vagum, Wiesneriomyces sp., and Tricholomataceae sp.) on the growth of C. kanehirae cuttings under nursery conditions. The results show that four DSE isolates are able to form symbiotic relationships with C. kanehira, enhancing the seedling height, fresh weight, and chlorophyll concentrations. Notably, the Melnikomyces sp. (DB5) showed significant improvements, secreting peroxidase and indole acetic acid. To facilitate the detection of DB5 within the host roots, we developed specific primers (DB5-1F/DB5-1R). We recommend the adoption of the endophyte inoculation approach and molecular detection methods in forestry nurseries as valuable tools to enhance silvicultural practices and contribute to the conservation of C. kanehirae.

Distribution patterns of endophytic fungi in different intertidal plant communities within a tropical mangrove forest in South China

Fungi play a crucial role in the growth of mangrove plants in various intertidal zones. However, our knowledge of the endophytic fungi in mangroves is limited. In this study, we analyzed the distribution patterns of endophytic fungi in true mangroves (TM), mangrove associates (MA), and other plants (OP) in a tropical mangrove forest. The results showed that Lulwoana, Fusarium, and Aspergillus were the predominant endophytic fungal taxa in TM, MA, and OP, respectively. Non-metric multidimensional scaling demonstrated significant differences in the endophytic fungal community structure among different intertidal plant communities, highlighting the plant-mediated selection of endophytic fungi. In addition, tides and plant species may affect endophytic fungal communities by altering soil properties. The colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE) was higher in MA, possibly because of variations in soil pH and available phosphorus content. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that family Diversisporaceae and Par1 (Paraglomeraceae) were exclusively found in the mangrove associates, whereas Glome4 (Glomeraceae) and Par2 (Paraglomeraceae) were observed only in the TM. These results support the high variation in AMF communities among the different intertidal plant communities. This study emphasizes the critical role of tides and plant species in shaping the composition of endophytic fungal communities, which has significant implications for the conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems.

The elusive bio-stimulatory function of Cladophialophora chaetospira SK51 to alleviate Fusarium wilt of strawberry

The highly virulent Fusarium oxysporum formae speciales (f.sp.) fragaria causes Fusarium wilt and significant losses in the strawberry agroindustry. The effective control strategies for this phytopathogen have yet to be developed. We aimed to evaluate the bioefficacy of root-colonizer dark septate endophytic fungi (DSEs) in controlling Fusarium wilt in simultaneous with biostimulation activities. Three out of nineteen tested isolates were selected because of their superior bioefficacy in regulating disease suppression and growth promotion. Notably, the highest level of disease suppression was marked at 90.48%, followed by 85.71% and 61.90% with the inoculation of these three selected isolates i.e., SK51, SK47, and SK48, respectively. The fungal isolates were identified based on partial SSU, LSU, and ITS as DSE fungus Cladophialophora chaetospira strain SK51, Exophiala sp. strain SK47, and E. pisciphila strain SK48. Our findings showed that C. chaetospira SK51 exhibited significant potential in promoting plant growth and suppressing diseases. It significantly enhanced various plant growth factors, such as the total plant biomass, the content of chlorophyll (SPAD), the formation of flower buds, and the development of fruits compared to both non-inoculated control and the other two DSE-inoculated plants. Our study provides new findings and perspectives on the use of the DSE, particularly C. chaetospira SK51 as a bioprotectant and biostimulant for enhancing the development, flower bud formation, and fruit development in strawberry plants.

Dark septate endophytic fungi associated with pioneer grass inhabiting volcanic deposits and their functions in promoting plant growth

Abstract. Growth of the pioneer grass Miscanthus condensatus, one of the first vegetation types to be established on volcanic deposits, is promoted by root-associated fungi, particularly dark septate endophytes (DSEs). Fungal taxa within DSEs colonize the root of Miscanthus condensatus in oligotrophic Andosol, and their function in plant growth promotion remains largely unknown. We, therefore, comprehensively assessed the composition of the DSE community associated with Miscanthus condensatus root in volcanic ecosystems using the approaches of both metabarcoding (next-generation sequencing) and isolation (culturing). Also, the promotion effects of DSEs on plant growth (rice as a proxy) were evaluated by inoculation of core isolates to rice roots. Here, we found the following: (i) 70 % of culturable fungi that colonized Miscanthus condensatus phylogenetically belonged to DSEs; (ii) seven orders were identified by both sequencing and culturing methods; and (iii) inoculation of DSE isolates (Phialocephala fortinii, P. helvetica, and Phialocephala sp.) validated their effects on rice growth, particularly under an extremely low pH condition (compared to the control without inoculation, rice biomass was enhanced 7.6-fold after inoculation of P. fortinii). This study helps improve our understanding of the community of Miscanthus condensatus-associated DSE fungi and their functions in promoting plant growth.