The fungal endophyte Fusarium solani provokes differential effects on the fitness of two Lotus species

GÁRRIZ, ANDRÉS; ERBAN, ALEXANDER; NIEVA, AMIRA SUSANA; MAIALE, SANTIAGO JAVIER; KOPKA, JOACHIM; VILAS, JUAN MANUEL; MENÉNDEZ, ANA BERNARDINA; RUIZ, OSCAR ADOLFO; GÁRRIZ, ANDRÉS; ERBAN, ALEXANDER; NIEVA, AMIRA SUSANA; MAIALE, SANTIAGO JAVIER; KOPKA, JOACHIM; VILAS, JUAN MANUEL; MENÉNDEZ, ANA BERNARDINA; RUIZ, OSCAR ADOLFO

PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

ELSEVIER FRANCE-EDITIONS SCIENTIFIQUES MEDICALES ELSEVIER

Año: 2019 vol. 144 p. 100 - 109

0981-9428

The interactions established between plants and endophytic fungi span a continuum from beneficial to pathogenic associations. The aim of this work was to isolate potentially beneficial fungal endophytes in the legumeLotus tenuis and explore the mechanisms underlying their effects. One of the nine fungal strains isolated wasidentified as Fusarium solani and shows the highest phosphate-solubilisation activity, and also grows endophytically in roots of L. japonicus and L. tenuis. Interestingly, fungal invasion enhances plant growth in L.japonicus but provokes a contrasting effect in L. tenuis. These differences were also evidenced when the rate ofphotosynthesis as well as sugars and K contents were assessed. Our results indicate that the differential responsesobserved are due to distinct mechanisms deployed during the establishment of the interactions that involve theregulation of photosynthesis, potassium homeostasis, and carbohydrate metabolism. These responses are employed by these plant species to maintain fitness during the endophytic interaction.