Transcriptome analysis for understanding the mechanism of dark septate endophyte S16 in promoting the growth and nitrate uptake of sweet cherry

Sweet cherry is one of the most popular fresh fruits in the world.Previously,we isolated a soilborne dark septate endophyte(DSE)strain,S16,which promoted the growth of Gisela 5 sweet cherry rootstock.However,little is known about the molecular mechanism of the effect of S16 on the growth of sweet cherry.In this study,the physiological parameters and transcript profiles of sweet cherry roots were analyzed under S16 treatment compared with a control to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the effect of this strain on sweet cherry growth.After inoculation with S16,sweet cherry seedlings exhibited more vigorous growth.Moreover,we identified 4249 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between S16-treated plants and the control.Many of the DEGs are involved in pathways related to plant growth,such as cellular metabolic and plant hormone pathways.Additionally,some genes involved in nitrate regulation were also enriched;and these genes may be involved in the regulation of nitrate uptake in plants.Physiological index detection demonstrated that S16 could improve the nitrate assimilation of sweet cherry via NO3–transporters.This RNA-seq dataset provides comprehensive insight into the transcriptomic landscape to reveal the molecular mechanisms whereby the DSE influences the growth of sweet cherry.

Tree species as hosts for arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophyte fungi

A survey of 35 tree species （belonging to 28 genera in 19 families） in Aliyar, South India was carried out to ascertain their arbuscular mycorrhizal （AM） and dark septate endophyte （DSE） fungal status. All the tree species examined had AM association. AM and DSE coloni- zation is reported for the first time in 20 and 14 species respectively. Co- occurrence of AM and DSE was observed in 14 （40%） tree species. The extent of DSE colonization was inversely related to the extent of AM fungal colonization. Six tree species had Arum-type, 18 had intermediate- type and 11 had typical Paris-type AM morphology. AM fungal spore morphotypes belonging to 11 species in two genera were isolated from the rhizosphere soil. AM fungal spore numbers were not related to the ex- tent of AM colonization and Glomus dominated spore diversity. AM association individually and along with DSE were found respectively in the 63% and 44% of the economically important tree species. The occur- rence of AM and DSE fungal association in economically important indigenous tree species indicates the possibility of exploiting this asso- ciation in future conservation programmes of these species.

Interaction between a Dark Septate Endophytic Isolate from Dendrobium sp. and Roots of D. nobile Seedlings

Interactions between an isolate of dark septate endophytes （DSE） and roots of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. seedlings are reported in this paper. The isolate was obtained from orchid mycorrhizas on Dendrobium sp. in subtropical forest. The fungus formed typical orchid mycorrhiza in aseptic co-culture with D. nobile seedlings on modified Murashige-Skoog （MMS） medium. Anatomic observations of the infected roots showed that the DSE hyphae invaded the velamen layer, passed through passage cells in exodermis, entered the cortex cells, and then formed fungal pelotons of orchid mycorrhiza. D. nobile seedlings＇ plant height, stem diameter, new roots number and biomass were greatly enhanced by inoculating the fungus to seedlings. The fungus was identified as Leptodontidium by sequencing the polymerase chain reaction-amplified rDNA ITS1-5,8S-ITS2 （internal transcribed spacer （ITS）） regions and comparison with similar taxa.

Mycorrhizal colonization and distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with Michelia champaca L.under plantation system in northeast India

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi（AMF） and dark septate endophyte（DSE） colonization were investigated in three different plantation sites（Umdihar,Umsaw and Mawlein） of Meghalaya,northeast India.Isolation and identification of the AMF spore were conducted to evaluate the AMF diversity and host preference in terms of AMF species distribution and abundance in the plantation sites.Results showed that AMF colonization was significantly higher than dark septate endophyte colonization（p〉0.05）.AMF and DSE colonization had a narrow range of colonization,varying from 50.91%-58.95% and 1.84%-4.11%,respectively.Spore density varied significantly in all the sites（p〉0.05）.Out of 29 species identified from 7 genera,the species from Glomus was found to be highly abundant.Sorenson coefficient（Cs） ranged from 0.35-7.0.Species richness varied from 2.0-2.9 in the sites.Total species richness was significantly correlated with total relative abundance（p=0.001）.The distribution,abundance and principal component analysis plot suggest that Glomus macrocarpum,G.multicaulis,G.constrictum and Acaulospora sp 1 were the most host preferred species which possibly may favour the host with proper nutrient acquisition and growth.

Endophytic mediation of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant activity in plants:a review

Reactive oxygen species are in all types of organisms from microbes to higher plants and animals.They are by-products of normal metabolism,such as photosynthesis and respiration,and are responsive to abiotic and biotic stress.Accumulating evidence suggests reactive oxygen species play a vital role in programmed cell death,stress responses,plant defense against pathogens and systemic stress signaling in conjunction with antioxidant production.Here,we propose that reactive oxygen species and antioxidants,as both universal and evolutionarily conserved,are likely to play important role(s)in symbiotic interactions.To support this hypothesis we review the root and foliar fungal endophyte literature specific to fungal-plant symbiotum production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidants in response to stress.These asymptomatic fungi can produce antioxidants in response to both biotic and abiotic stress when grown in culture as well as in planta.In addition,there is a growing but nascent literature reporting a significant impact of endophyte colonization on the antioxidant activity of colonized(E+)hosts when compared to uncolonized(E-)hosts,especially when exposed to stress.Here we summarize general patterns emerging from the growing literature specific to antioxidant activity of endophytes in colonized hosts and bring up possible future research questions and approaches.The consequences of changes in reactive oxygen species production and increased antioxidant activity in the symbiotum appear to be beneficial in many instances;but costs are also indicated.Unexplored questions are:1)to what extent do antioxidants originating from the fungal endophyte mediate host metabolism,and thereby control host responses to endophyte colonization;(2)what role do fungal,plant,or symbiotum produced reactive oxygen species and antioxidants have in determining symbiotic outcome between extremes of pathogenicity and mutualism;and(3)what role if any,do the production of reactive oxygen species and their antioxidant counterparts play in the symbiotum’s ability to respond to changing selection pressures?If as the literature suggests,such endophyte imposed mediation can be utilized to foster increases in plant production in resource limited habitats then the utilization of fungal endophytes may prove useful in agronomic and conservation settings.

Loss of the accessory chromosome converts a pathogenic tree-root fungus into a mutualistic endophyte

Some fungal accessory chromosomes(ACs)may contribute to virulence in plants.However,the mecha-nisms by which ACs determine specific traits associated with lifestyle transitions along a symbiotic contin-uum are not clear.Here we delineated the genetic divergence in two sympatric but considerably variable isolates(16B and 16W)of the poplar-associated fungus Stagonosporopsis rhizophilae.We identified a-0.6-Mb horizontally acquired AC in 16W that resulted in a mildly parasitic lifestyle in plants.Complete deletion of the AC(D16W)significantly altered the fungal phenotype.Specifically,D16W was morphologically more similar to 16B,showed enhanced melanization,and established beneficial interactions with poplar plants,thereby acting as a dark septate endophyte.RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)analysis showed that AC loss induced the upregulation of genes related to root colonization and biosynthesis of indole acetic acid and melanin.We observed that the AC maintained a more open status of chromatin across the genome,indicating an impressive remodeling of cis-regulatory elements upon AC loss,which potentially enhanced symbiotic effectiveness.We demonstrated that the symbiotic capacities were non-host-specific through comparable experiments on Triticum–and Arabidopsis–fungus associations.Furthermore,the three isolates generated symbiotic interactions with a nonvascular liverwort.In summary,our study suggests that the AC is a suppressor of symbiosis and provides insights into the underlying mechanisms of mutualism with vascular plants in the absence of traits encoded by the AC.We speculate that AC-situ-ated effectors and other potential secreted molecules may have evolved to specifically target vascular plants and promote mild virulence.