Exploring Plant Growth-Promoting Traits of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from <i>Ligusticum chuanxiong</i> Hort and Their Interaction in Plant Growth and Development

Endophytic fungi inhabit various plant tissues and organs without inducing evident disease symptoms. They can contribute positively to the growth of plants, bolster plants resilience to environmental and biological stresses, and facilitate the accumulation of secondary metabolites. These microbial r...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Qing Wang, Xinyu Zhang, Qiqi Xie, Jiwen Tao, Yujie Jia, Yirong Xiao, Zizhong Tang, Qingfeng Li, Ming Yuan, Tongliang Bu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Journal of Fungi
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/10/713
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850206169010798592
author Qing Wang
Xinyu Zhang
Qiqi Xie
Jiwen Tao
Yujie Jia
Yirong Xiao
Zizhong Tang
Qingfeng Li
Ming Yuan
Tongliang Bu
author_facet Qing Wang
Xinyu Zhang
Qiqi Xie
Jiwen Tao
Yujie Jia
Yirong Xiao
Zizhong Tang
Qingfeng Li
Ming Yuan
Tongliang Bu
author_sort Qing Wang
collection DOAJ
description Endophytic fungi inhabit various plant tissues and organs without inducing evident disease symptoms. They can contribute positively to the growth of plants, bolster plants resilience to environmental and biological stresses, and facilitate the accumulation of secondary metabolites. These microbial resources possess significant developmental and utilization value in various applications. Hence, this study focused on exploring the plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits of 14 endophytic fungi from <i>Ligusticum chuanxiong</i> Hort (CX) and elucidating the effects and mechanisms that facilitate plant growth. According to PGP activity evaluation, the majority of strains demonstrated the capacity to produce IAA (78.57%), siderophores (50.00%), ammonia (35.71%), potassium solubilization (21.43%), nitrogen fixation (57.14%), and phosphate solubilization (42.86%). Further investigations indicated that the levels of IAA ranged from 13.05 to 301.43 μg/mL, whereas the soluble phosphorus levels ranged from 47.32 to 125.95 μg/mL. In cocultivation assays, it was indicated that <i>Fusarium</i> sp. YMY5, <i>Colletotrichum</i> sp. YMY6, <i>Alternaria</i> sp. ZZ10 and <i>Fusarium</i> sp. ZZ13 had a certain promoting effect on lateral root number and fresh weight of tobacco. Furthermore, ZZ10 and ZZ13 significantly enhanced the germination potential, germination index, and vigor index of tobacco seeds. The subsequent potted trials demonstrated that the four endophytic fungi exhibited an enhancement to growth parameters of tobacco to a certain extent. ZZ10 and ZZ13 treatment had the best promotion effect. Inoculation with YMY5 increased the chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll content. ZZ10 and ZZ13 treatment remarkably increased the net photosynthetic rate, soluble sugars and soluble protein content, catalase and peroxidase activities, and lowered malondialdehyde content in tobacco leaves. In addition, YMY5 remarkably elevated superoxide dismutase activities. ZZ13 upregulated the expression of growth-related gene. Among them, ZZ13 had a better growth-promoting effect. In conclusion, these endophytic fungi possessing multi-trait characteristics and the capacity to enhance plant growth exhibit promising potential as biofertilizers or plant growth regulators.
format Article
id doaj-art-aabc6688a969405d89b95eaa921c4dc6
institution OA Journals
issn 2309-608X
language English
publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Journal of Fungi
spelling doaj-art-aabc6688a969405d89b95eaa921c4dc62025-08-20T02:10:54ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2024-10-01101071310.3390/jof10100713Exploring Plant Growth-Promoting Traits of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from <i>Ligusticum chuanxiong</i> Hort and Their Interaction in Plant Growth and DevelopmentQing Wang0Xinyu Zhang1Qiqi Xie2Jiwen Tao3Yujie Jia4Yirong Xiao5Zizhong Tang6Qingfeng Li7Ming Yuan8Tongliang Bu9College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, ChinaSichuan Agricultural University Hospital, Ya’an 625014, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, ChinaEndophytic fungi inhabit various plant tissues and organs without inducing evident disease symptoms. They can contribute positively to the growth of plants, bolster plants resilience to environmental and biological stresses, and facilitate the accumulation of secondary metabolites. These microbial resources possess significant developmental and utilization value in various applications. Hence, this study focused on exploring the plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits of 14 endophytic fungi from <i>Ligusticum chuanxiong</i> Hort (CX) and elucidating the effects and mechanisms that facilitate plant growth. According to PGP activity evaluation, the majority of strains demonstrated the capacity to produce IAA (78.57%), siderophores (50.00%), ammonia (35.71%), potassium solubilization (21.43%), nitrogen fixation (57.14%), and phosphate solubilization (42.86%). Further investigations indicated that the levels of IAA ranged from 13.05 to 301.43 μg/mL, whereas the soluble phosphorus levels ranged from 47.32 to 125.95 μg/mL. In cocultivation assays, it was indicated that <i>Fusarium</i> sp. YMY5, <i>Colletotrichum</i> sp. YMY6, <i>Alternaria</i> sp. ZZ10 and <i>Fusarium</i> sp. ZZ13 had a certain promoting effect on lateral root number and fresh weight of tobacco. Furthermore, ZZ10 and ZZ13 significantly enhanced the germination potential, germination index, and vigor index of tobacco seeds. The subsequent potted trials demonstrated that the four endophytic fungi exhibited an enhancement to growth parameters of tobacco to a certain extent. ZZ10 and ZZ13 treatment had the best promotion effect. Inoculation with YMY5 increased the chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll content. ZZ10 and ZZ13 treatment remarkably increased the net photosynthetic rate, soluble sugars and soluble protein content, catalase and peroxidase activities, and lowered malondialdehyde content in tobacco leaves. In addition, YMY5 remarkably elevated superoxide dismutase activities. ZZ13 upregulated the expression of growth-related gene. Among them, ZZ13 had a better growth-promoting effect. In conclusion, these endophytic fungi possessing multi-trait characteristics and the capacity to enhance plant growth exhibit promising potential as biofertilizers or plant growth regulators.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/10/713fungal endophytesplant growth promotiongermination indicesgrowth indicatorsphysiological characteristics
spellingShingle Qing Wang
Xinyu Zhang
Qiqi Xie
Jiwen Tao
Yujie Jia
Yirong Xiao
Zizhong Tang
Qingfeng Li
Ming Yuan
Tongliang Bu
Exploring Plant Growth-Promoting Traits of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from <i>Ligusticum chuanxiong</i> Hort and Their Interaction in Plant Growth and Development
Journal of Fungi
fungal endophytes
plant growth promotion
germination indices
growth indicators
physiological characteristics
title Exploring Plant Growth-Promoting Traits of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from <i>Ligusticum chuanxiong</i> Hort and Their Interaction in Plant Growth and Development
title_full Exploring Plant Growth-Promoting Traits of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from <i>Ligusticum chuanxiong</i> Hort and Their Interaction in Plant Growth and Development
title_fullStr Exploring Plant Growth-Promoting Traits of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from <i>Ligusticum chuanxiong</i> Hort and Their Interaction in Plant Growth and Development
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Plant Growth-Promoting Traits of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from <i>Ligusticum chuanxiong</i> Hort and Their Interaction in Plant Growth and Development
title_short Exploring Plant Growth-Promoting Traits of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from <i>Ligusticum chuanxiong</i> Hort and Their Interaction in Plant Growth and Development
title_sort exploring plant growth promoting traits of endophytic fungi isolated from i ligusticum chuanxiong i hort and their interaction in plant growth and development
topic fungal endophytes
plant growth promotion
germination indices
growth indicators
physiological characteristics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/10/713
work_keys_str_mv AT qingwang exploringplantgrowthpromotingtraitsofendophyticfungiisolatedfromiligusticumchuanxiongihortandtheirinteractioninplantgrowthanddevelopment
AT xinyuzhang exploringplantgrowthpromotingtraitsofendophyticfungiisolatedfromiligusticumchuanxiongihortandtheirinteractioninplantgrowthanddevelopment
AT qiqixie exploringplantgrowthpromotingtraitsofendophyticfungiisolatedfromiligusticumchuanxiongihortandtheirinteractioninplantgrowthanddevelopment
AT jiwentao exploringplantgrowthpromotingtraitsofendophyticfungiisolatedfromiligusticumchuanxiongihortandtheirinteractioninplantgrowthanddevelopment
AT yujiejia exploringplantgrowthpromotingtraitsofendophyticfungiisolatedfromiligusticumchuanxiongihortandtheirinteractioninplantgrowthanddevelopment
AT yirongxiao exploringplantgrowthpromotingtraitsofendophyticfungiisolatedfromiligusticumchuanxiongihortandtheirinteractioninplantgrowthanddevelopment
AT zizhongtang exploringplantgrowthpromotingtraitsofendophyticfungiisolatedfromiligusticumchuanxiongihortandtheirinteractioninplantgrowthanddevelopment
AT qingfengli exploringplantgrowthpromotingtraitsofendophyticfungiisolatedfromiligusticumchuanxiongihortandtheirinteractioninplantgrowthanddevelopment
AT mingyuan exploringplantgrowthpromotingtraitsofendophyticfungiisolatedfromiligusticumchuanxiongihortandtheirinteractioninplantgrowthanddevelopment
AT tongliangbu exploringplantgrowthpromotingtraitsofendophyticfungiisolatedfromiligusticumchuanxiongihortandtheirinteractioninplantgrowthanddevelopment