Use of fungal endophytes to increase cucurbit plant performance by conferring abiotic and biotic stress tolerance

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley Freeman ◽  
Russell Rodriguez ◽  
Adel Al-Abed ◽  
Roni Cohen ◽  
David Ezra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Tolerance ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Limited Resource ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Desert Areas

Major threats to agricultural sustainability in the 21st century are drought, increasing temperatures, soil salinity and soilborne pathogens, all of which are being exacerbated by climate change and pesticide abolition and are burning issues related to agriculture in the Middle East. We have found that Class 2 fungal endophytes adapt native plants to environmental stresses (drought, heat and salt) in a habitat-specific manner, and that these endophytes can confer stress tolerance to genetically distant monocot and eudicot hosts. In the past, we generated a uv non-pathogenic endophytic mutant of Colletotrichum magna (path-1) that colonized cucurbits, induced drought tolerance and enhanced growth, and protected 85% - 100% against disease caused by certain pathogenic fungi. We propose: 1) utilizing path-1 and additional endophtyic microorganisms to be isolated from stress-tolerant local, wild cucurbit watermelon, Citrulluscolocynthis, growing in the Dead Sea and Arava desert areas, 2) generate abiotic and biotic tolerant melon crop plants, colonized by the isolated endophytes, to increase crop yields under extreme environmental conditions such as salinity, heat and drought stress, 3) manage soilborne fungal pathogens affecting curubit crop species growing in the desert areas. This is a unique and novel "systems" approach that has the potential to utilize natural plant adaptation for agricultural development. We envisage that endophyte-colonized melons will eventually be used to overcome damages caused by soilborne diseases and also for cultivation of this crop, under stress conditions, utilizing treated waste water, thus dealing with the limited resource of fresh water.

scholarly journals The Mechanisms of Mating in Pathogenic Fungi—A Plastic Trait

Genes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 831
Author(s):  
Jane Usher
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Sexual And Asexual Reproduction ◽  
Target Dna ◽  
High Degree ◽  
The Impact

The impact of fungi on human and plant health is an ever-increasing issue. Recent studies have estimated that human fungal infections result in an excess of one million deaths per year and plant fungal infections resulting in the loss of crop yields worth approximately 200 million per annum. Sexual reproduction in these economically important fungi has evolved in response to the environmental stresses encountered by the pathogens as a method to target DNA damage. Meiosis is integral to this process, through increasing diversity through recombination. Mating and meiosis have been extensively studied in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, highlighting that these mechanisms have diverged even between apparently closely related species. To further examine this, this review will inspect these mechanisms in emerging important fungal pathogens, such as Candida, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus. It shows that both sexual and asexual reproduction in these fungi demonstrate a high degree of plasticity.

Fungal endophytes nearly double minimum leaf conductance in seedlings of a neotropical tree species

2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Elizabeth Arnold ◽  
Bettina M. J. Engelbrecht
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Vascular Tissue ◽  
Water Status ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Neotropical Tree

Drought strongly influences plant phenology, growth and mortality in tropical forests, thereby shaping plant performance, population dynamics and community structure (Bunker & Carson 2005, Condit et al. 1995). Microbial symbionts of plants profoundly influence host water relations (Lösch & Gansert 2002), but are rarely considered in studies of tropical plant physiology. In particular, plant–fungus associations, which are ubiquitous in plant communities and especially common in tropical forests, play important and varied roles in plant water status. Fungal pathogens associated with roots, vascular tissue and foliage may interfere with water uptake and transport, increase rates of foliar transpiration, and induce xylem embolism and tissue death (Agrios 1997). In contrast, rhizosphere mutualists such as ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi may benefit hosts by increasing surface area for water uptake, enhancing stomatal regulation of water loss, and increasing root hydraulic conductivity (Auge 2001, Lösch & Gansert 2002).

scholarly journals A Symbiotic Approach to Generating Stress Tolerant Crops

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 920
Author(s):  
Regina S. Redman ◽  
Yong Ok Kim ◽  
Sang Cho ◽  
Malia Mercer ◽  
Melissa Rienstra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Stress Tolerance ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Weedy Rice ◽  
Rice Plants ◽  
The Usa

Studies were undertaken to determine if fungal endophytes from plants in stressful habitats could be commercialized to generate climate resilient crop plants. Fungal endophytes were isolated from weedy rice plants and grasses from South Korea and the USA, respectively. Endophytes (Curvularia brachyspora and Fusarium asiaticum) from weedy rice plants from high salt or drought stressed habitats in South Korea conferred salt and drought stress tolerance to weedy rice and commercial varieties reflective of the habitats from which they were isolated. Fungal endophytes isolated from grasses in arid habitats of the USA were identified as Trichoderma harzianum and conferred drought and heat stress tolerance to monocots and eudicots. Two T. harzianum isolates were exposed to UV mutagenesis to derive strains resistant to fungicides in seed treatment plant protection packages. Three strains that collectively had resistance to commonly used fungicides were used for field testing. The three-strain mixture (ThSM3a) increased crop yields proportionally to the level of stress plants experienced with average yields up to 52% under high and 3–5% in low stress conditions. This study demonstrates fungal endophytes can be developed as viable commercial tools for rapidly generating climate resilient crops to enhance agricultural sustainability.

scholarly journals Molecular Phylogeny of Endophytic Fungi from Rattan (Calamus castaneus Griff.) Spines and Their Antagonistic Activities against Plant Pathogenic Fungi

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 301
Author(s):  
Nurul Farizah Azuddin ◽  
Masratul Hawa Mohd ◽  
Nik Fadzly N. Rosely ◽  
Asyraf Mansor ◽  
Latiffah Zakaria
Keyword(s):  
Endophytic Fungi ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Inhibition Zone ◽  
Peninsular Malaysia ◽  
Plant Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Trichoderma Spp ◽  
Palm Species ◽  
Rattan Palm

Calamus castaneus is a common rattan palm species in the tropical forests of Peninsular Malaysia and is noticeable by the yellow-based spines that cover the stems. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of fungal endophytes within C. castaneus spines and whether they inhibit the growth of fungal pathogens. Twenty-one genera with 40 species of fungal endophytes were isolated and identified from rattan palm spines. Based on molecular identification, the most common isolates recovered from the spines were Colletotrichum (n = 19) and Diaporthe spp. (n = 18), followed by Phyllosticta spp., Xylaria sp., Trichoderma spp., Helminthosporium spp., Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., Neopestalotiopsis spp., Arthrinium sp., Cyphellophora sp., Cladosporium spp., Curvularia sp., Bionectria sp., and Acremonium spp. Non-sporulating fungi were also identified, namely Nemania primolutea, Pidoplitchkoviella terricola, Muyocopron laterale, Acrocalymma fici, Acrocalymma medicaginis, and Endomelanconiopsis endophytica. The isolation of these endophytes showed that the spines harbor endophytic fungi. Most of the fungal endophytes inhibited the growth of several plant pathogenic fungi, with 68% of the interactions resulting in mutual inhibition, producing a clear inhibition zone of <2 mm. Our findings demonstrate the potential of the fungal endophytes from C. castaneus spines as biocontrol agents.

scholarly journals EFFECT OF EPIPHYTES EXTRACT ON THE PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY IN THE CROP SEEDLINGS CHALLENGED WITH FUNGAL PATHOGENS

2019 ◽  
pp. 58-62
Author(s):  
HAMZAH JUMAH ESSA BARKAH ◽  
LOKESH S
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Foliar Spray ◽  
Soxhlet Extraction ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Increased Activity ◽  
Reduced Activity

Objectives: The objective of the present study to test the angiospermic epiphytes such as Bulbophyllum propinquum and Dendrophthoe falcata for their effect against some pathogenic fungi of sorghum, paddy and chilli, through seed treatment and foliar spray in challenging with the infectivity of the pathogens. Methods: The plant extracts were carried out by the Soxhlet extraction method and culture of pathogenic fungi were cultured and maintained in vitro for further use. The peroxidase (POX) enzyme activity in the seedlings was measured spectrophotometrically at 300 nm and expressed as Δ optical density 300 nm/min/mg protein. Results: The results of this study indicated 92 and 98% seed germination in the control samples, respectively. In the chilli and paddy which were reduced to 64 and 58% in seedlings inoculated with Colletotrichum dematium, Drechslera oryzae, correspondingly. Similar observation was made in sorghum samples on treatment with Fusarium solani and Fusarium oxysporum, whose germination was drastically reduced to 74 and 69% compared to control (92%). In all the cases, seed treated with epiphytes extracts indicated the stimulated germination over pathogen inoculated samples. In parallel to this, the peroxidase assay also indicated its diminished/reduced activity in pathogen treated seedlings of the selected crop species. Seedlings of epiphytes extract treatment challenged with respective pathogens showed an increased activity over only pathogen treated samples. Conclusion: The results clearly indicated the influence of POX in early growing stages of the seedlings corresponds to 12–72 h of incubation in spite of pathogenic activity. Thus, it proved the loss of enzyme activity seedlings on pathogen infection. Contrastingly, POX activity in the seedlings irrespective of the crop species remained high during the early growth stages of the seedlings.

Improved Plant Diversity as a Strategy to Increase Available Soil Phosphorus

2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Crusciol ◽  
João Rigon ◽  
Juliano Calonego ◽  
Rogério Soratto
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yields ◽  
Soil Phosphorus ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
P Availability ◽  
P Fractions ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Residue Decomposition ◽  
Available Soil Phosphorus ◽  
Crop Residue Decomposition

Some crop species could be used inside a cropping system as part of a strategy to increase soil P availability due to their capacity to recycle P and shift the equilibrium between soil P fractions to benefit the main crop. The release of P by crop residue decomposition, and mobilization and uptake of otherwise recalcitrant P are important mechanisms capable of increasing P availability and crop yields.

SOYBEAN AND FLAX SELECTION METHODS

1970 ◽  
pp. 19-23
Author(s):  
V. М. Lukomets ◽  
S. V. Zelentsov
Keyword(s):  
High Resistance ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Cultivated Plants ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Physiological Basis ◽  
Oil Crops ◽  
Soybean Genotypes ◽  
Genetically Determined

To improve the effectiveness of the soybeans and oil flax breeding, research to improve existing and develop new breeding methods are conducting in all-Russia Research institute of Oil Crops (Krasnodar). One of the improved methods for the soybean breeding, based on the use of sources of complexes of compensatory genes, is the CCG technology, which allows to create varieties with an increased yield of a heterotic level transmitted along the progeny for the entire life cycle of the variety. For the purpose of non-transgenic production of new traits, a theory of polyploid recombination of the genome (TPR) was formulated, which models the mechanism of the natural formation of polymorphism in the centers of origin of cultivated plants. On the basis of this theory, a method of breeding (TPR-technology) has been developed, which makes it possible to obtain recombinant reploids of soybeans and oil flax with an extended spectrum of traits. Of these reploids, the soybean lines with increased sucking force of the roots, providing high drought resistance, were distinguished; cold-resistant soybean lines, which stand in the phase of shoots of freezing to minus 5 °С; lines of oil flax with complete resistance to flax sickness of soil and high resistance to Fusarium; winter-hardy flax lines that withstand winter frosts down to minus 20–23 °С and ripen one and a half months earlier than spring sowings. Another original developed method is the ODCS-technology for isolating and selecting soybean genotypes with high resistance to fungal pathogens. The physiological basis of ODCS-technology is the blocking of osmotic nutrition of pathogenic fungi due to genetically determined increased osmotic pressure in the tissues of host plants. The practical implementation of CCG-, TPR- and ODKS-technologies in the selection process, allowed to create a whole series of soybean and oil flax varieties with improved or new traits.

scholarly journals Mitotic Recombination and Adaptive Genomic Changes in Human Pathogenic Fungi

Genes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asiya Gusa ◽  
Sue Jinks-Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Repetitive Sequences ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Genomic Changes ◽  
Break Site ◽  
Repair Mechanisms

Genome rearrangements and ploidy alterations are important for adaptive change in the pathogenic fungal species Candida and Cryptococcus, which propagate primarily through clonal, asexual reproduction. These changes can occur during mitotic growth and lead to enhanced virulence, drug resistance, and persistence in chronic infections. Examples of microevolution during the course of infection were described in both human infections and mouse models. Recent discoveries defining the role of sexual, parasexual, and unisexual cycles in the evolution of these pathogenic fungi further expanded our understanding of the diversity found in and between species. During mitotic growth, damage to DNA in the form of double-strand breaks (DSBs) is repaired, and genome integrity is restored by the homologous recombination and non-homologous end-joining pathways. In addition to faithful repair, these pathways can introduce minor sequence alterations at the break site or lead to more extensive genetic alterations that include loss of heterozygosity, inversions, duplications, deletions, and translocations. In particular, the prevalence of repetitive sequences in fungal genomes provides opportunities for structural rearrangements to be generated by non-allelic (ectopic) recombination. In this review, we describe DSB repair mechanisms and the types of resulting genome alterations that were documented in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The relevance of similar recombination events to stress- and drug-related adaptations and in generating species diversity are discussed for the human fungal pathogens Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans.

scholarly journals The Ustilago hordei–Barley Interaction is a Versatile System for Characterization of Fungal Effectors

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 86
Author(s):  
Bilal Ökmen ◽  
Daniela Schwammbach ◽  
Guus Bakkeren ◽  
Ulla Neumann ◽  
Gunther Doehlemann
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Mating Partner ◽  
Fungal Virulence ◽  
Functional Studies ◽  
Infection Structures ◽  
Ustilago Hordei

Obligate biotrophic fungal pathogens, such as Blumeria graminis and Puccinia graminis, are amongst the most devastating plant pathogens, causing dramatic yield losses in many economically important crops worldwide. However, a lack of reliable tools for the efficient genetic transformation has hampered studies into the molecular basis of their virulence or pathogenicity. In this study, we present the Ustilago hordei–barley pathosystem as a model to characterize effectors from different plant pathogenic fungi. We generate U. hordei solopathogenic strains, which form infectious filaments without the presence of a compatible mating partner. Solopathogenic strains are suitable for heterologous expression system for fungal virulence factors. A highly efficient Crispr/Cas9 gene editing system is made available for U. hordei. In addition, U. hordei infection structures during barley colonization are analyzed using transmission electron microscopy, showing that U. hordei forms intracellular infection structures sharing high similarity to haustoria formed by obligate rust and powdery mildew fungi. Thus, U. hordei has high potential as a fungal expression platform for functional studies of heterologous effector proteins in barley.

scholarly journals High probability of yield gain through conservation agriculture in dry regions for major staple crops

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Su ◽  
Benoit Gabrielle ◽  
Damien Beillouin ◽  
David Makowski
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Relative Yield ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Machine Learning Algorithms ◽  
Agricultural Practice ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Yield Gain

AbstractConservation agriculture (CA) has been promoted to mitigate climate change, reduce soil erosion, and provide a variety of ecosystem services. Yet, its impacts on crop yields remains controversial. To gain further insight, we mapped the probability of yield gain when switching from conventional tillage systems (CT) to CA worldwide. Relative yield changes were estimated with machine learning algorithms trained by 4403 paired yield observations on 8 crop species extracted from 413 publications. CA has better productive performance than no-till system (NT), and it stands a more than 50% chance to outperform CT in dryer regions of the world, especially with proper agricultural management practices. Residue retention has the largest positive impact on CA productivity comparing to other management practices. The variations in the productivity of CA and NT across geographical and climatical regions were illustrated on global maps. CA appears as a sustainable agricultural practice if targeted at specific climatic regions and crop species.

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