The Role of Phialocephala fortinii in Improving Plants’ Phosphorus Nutrition: New Puzzle Pieces

Abstract

Plants’ mineral nutrition in acidic soils can be facilitated by phosphate solubilizing fungi inhabiting the root systems of these plants. We attempt to find dark septate endophyte (DSE) isolates in the roots of wild-heather plants, which are capable of improving plants’ phosphorus nutrition levels. Bright-field and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used for the visualization of endophytes. A model system of co-cultivation with Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait. was used to study a fungal isolate’s ability to supply plants with phosphorus. Fungal phytase activity and phosphorus content in plants were estimated spectrophotometrically. In V. vitis-idaea L. roots, we obtained a Phialocephala fortinii Wang, Wilcox DSE2 isolate with acid phytase activity (maximum 6.91 ± 0.17 U on 21st day of cultivation on potato-dextrose broth medium) and the ability to accumulate polyphosphates in hyphae cells. The ability of the isolate to increase both phosphorus accumulation and biomass in V. macrocarpon is also shown. The data obtained for the same isolate, as puzzle pieces put together, indicate the possible mediation of P. fortinii DSE2 isolate in the process of phosphorus intake from inorganic soil reserves to plants.

Morphogenesis and metabolomics reveal the compatible relationship among Suillus bovinus , Phialocephala fortinii , and their co-host, Pinus massoniana

“…6 ). Similar findings have been reported elsewhere ( 22 , 45 , 47 , 48 ). The co-inoculation treatment also promoted the growth of P. massoniana , but its promotion effect was weaker than the single-inoculation treatments.…”

Plant Development Drives Dynamic Shifts in the Root Compartment Microbiomes of Wild and Domesticated Finger Millet Cultivars

“…Chrysosporium, Phialocephala, Meliniomyces, Conlarium, and unclassified Helotiales taxa exhibited selective enrichment in the endosphere of the studied millet varieties. There is emerging evidence that these endophytic fungi have plant growth-promoting functions [62][63][64][65].…”

Phosphorus Supply to Plants of Vaccinium L. Genus: Proven Patterns and Unexplored Issues

“…Among fungi that colonize the roots of plants of the Vaccinium genus, there are ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, dark septate endophytes, ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes, as well as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, less common in ericoid plants, and species with a currently unclear systematic position and functional role [75]. Representatives of the first two groups have been shown to secrete phosphate-mobilizing compounds and increase the phosphorus content in host plant tissues [76][77][78].…”

“…Improving the phosphorus supply to plants is associated with the ability of mycorrhizal fungi to perform the following: -Secrete phosphatases and phytases that make phosphorus from organic sources available to plants; -Increase the absorptive area of the branched root systems of plants of the Vaccinium genus that do not have root hairs due to the extensive network of fungal hyphae with highly active fungal transporters, such as Pht1, and due to the effect of fungal signaling compounds that stimulate the branching of the host root system; -Store phosphates in the mycelium in the form of inorganic polyphosphates and deliver them through hyphae into the host plant [77,78].…”