Allelopathic Effects of Foliar <i>Epichloë</i> Endophytes on Belowground Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: A Meta-Analysis
Many grasses are simultaneously symbiotic with <i>Epichloë</i> fungal endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes are a group of filamentous fungi that colonize and grow within aerial plant tissues, such as leaves and stems. Infection and hyp...
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/11/1768 |
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| author | Rui Zhong Lin Zhang Xingxu Zhang |
| author_facet | Rui Zhong Lin Zhang Xingxu Zhang |
| author_sort | Rui Zhong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many grasses are simultaneously symbiotic with <i>Epichloë</i> fungal endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes are a group of filamentous fungi that colonize and grow within aerial plant tissues, such as leaves and stems. Infection and hyphal growth of <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes confer fitness advantages to the host plants. In addition to producing fungal alkaloids and altering host metabolic/genetic profiles, it is proven that symbiosis of plants with root/foliar endophytes affects the plant–soil relationship. We propose that the <i>Epichloë</i> presence/infection results in variations of soil and root AMF through allelopathic effects. We performed a meta-analysis that integrated the allelopathic effects of <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes on grass–AMF development. In the pre-symbiotic phase of grass–AMF symbiosis, root exudation from <i>Epichloë</i>-infected plants positively affected AMF growth, whereas the shoot exudates of <i>Epichloë</i>-infected plants inhibited AMF growth. In the symbiotic phase of grass–AMF symbiosis, the <i>Epichloë</i> infection was found to reduce root mycorrhizal colonization in plants. No pattern in the response of soil AMF to <i>Epichloë</i> presence was found. This study should improve our understanding of the impact of <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes on belowground microbial symbionts within the same host plant. Grass–<i>Epichloë</i>–AMF symbiosis may become an important model for studying above–belowground interactions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:21:53Z |
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| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:21:53Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
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| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-4f6f2cba5d7a4ccfbba8b9a2cc27613a2023-11-24T03:16:35ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722022-10-011211176810.3390/agriculture12111768Allelopathic Effects of Foliar <i>Epichloë</i> Endophytes on Belowground Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: A Meta-AnalysisRui Zhong0Lin Zhang1Xingxu Zhang2College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, ChinaMany grasses are simultaneously symbiotic with <i>Epichloë</i> fungal endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes are a group of filamentous fungi that colonize and grow within aerial plant tissues, such as leaves and stems. Infection and hyphal growth of <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes confer fitness advantages to the host plants. In addition to producing fungal alkaloids and altering host metabolic/genetic profiles, it is proven that symbiosis of plants with root/foliar endophytes affects the plant–soil relationship. We propose that the <i>Epichloë</i> presence/infection results in variations of soil and root AMF through allelopathic effects. We performed a meta-analysis that integrated the allelopathic effects of <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes on grass–AMF development. In the pre-symbiotic phase of grass–AMF symbiosis, root exudation from <i>Epichloë</i>-infected plants positively affected AMF growth, whereas the shoot exudates of <i>Epichloë</i>-infected plants inhibited AMF growth. In the symbiotic phase of grass–AMF symbiosis, the <i>Epichloë</i> infection was found to reduce root mycorrhizal colonization in plants. No pattern in the response of soil AMF to <i>Epichloë</i> presence was found. This study should improve our understanding of the impact of <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes on belowground microbial symbionts within the same host plant. Grass–<i>Epichloë</i>–AMF symbiosis may become an important model for studying above–belowground interactions.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/11/1768<i>Epichloë</i> endophytesallelopathyarbuscular mycorrhizal fungushost grass |
| spellingShingle | Rui Zhong Lin Zhang Xingxu Zhang Allelopathic Effects of Foliar <i>Epichloë</i> Endophytes on Belowground Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: A Meta-Analysis Agriculture <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes allelopathy arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus host grass |
| title | Allelopathic Effects of Foliar <i>Epichloë</i> Endophytes on Belowground Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_full | Allelopathic Effects of Foliar <i>Epichloë</i> Endophytes on Belowground Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Allelopathic Effects of Foliar <i>Epichloë</i> Endophytes on Belowground Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Allelopathic Effects of Foliar <i>Epichloë</i> Endophytes on Belowground Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_short | Allelopathic Effects of Foliar <i>Epichloë</i> Endophytes on Belowground Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_sort | allelopathic effects of foliar i epichloe i endophytes on belowground arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi a meta analysis |
| topic | <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes allelopathy arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus host grass |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/11/1768 |
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