Molecular and Physiological Mechanisms Underlying the Antifungal and Nutrient Acquisition Activities of Beneficial Microbes
January 2016
TLDR Certain beneficial microbes can fight fungi and help plants get nutrients.
The study investigated the role of endophytes in combating fungal pathogens and aiding nutrient acquisition in plants. Researchers tested 190 bacterial endophytes from wild, ancient, and modern maize genotypes for antifungal activity using creeping bentgrass as a model. They found that certain strains of Burkholderia gladioli and Paenibacillus polymyxa could suppress specific fungal pathogens, with the Burkholderia strains originating from wild or ancient maize. Genetic analysis of B. gladioli revealed antifungal genes involved in various cellular processes. Additionally, one endophyte from wild maize promoted root growth in annual ryegrass by solubilizing rock phosphate and synthesizing auxin, supporting the idea that wild plants host beneficial microbes for nutrient acquisition.
