Journal Article

Growth promotion and disease resistance induced in Anthurium colonized by the beneficial root endophyte Piriformospora indica

Lin, Hui-Feng, Xu, Xu-Ming, Yeh, Kai-Wun, Xiong, Jun, Zhou, Hui-Ming, Oelmüller, Ralf, Chen, Chang-Ming, Lin, Fa-Zhuang, Xu, Wei-Feng

2019

Overview

Background Anthurium andraeanum , an important ornamental flower, has to go through a growth-delaying period after transfer from tissue culture to soil, which requires time and extra costs. Furthermore, during this period, the plantlets are highly susceptible to bacterial infections, which results in impaired development and severe losses. Here, we aimed to address whether application of the endophytic fungus, Piriformospora indica protects the A. andraeanum root system during the critical propagation period, and whether P. indica reduce the mortality rate by stimulating the host’s resistance against diseases. Results We demonstrate that P. indica shortens the recovery period of Anthurium , promotes growth and confers disease resistance. The beneficial effect of P. indica results in faster elongation of Anthurium roots early in the interaction. P. indica -colonized plants absorb more phosphorus and exhibit higher photosynthesis rates than uncolonized control plants. Moreover, higher activities of stress-related enzymes, of jasmonic acid levels and mRNA levels of jasmonic acid-responsive genes suggest that the fungus prepares the plant to respond more efficiently to potentially upcoming threats, including bacterial wilt. Conclusion These results suggest that P. indica is a helpful symbiont for promoting Anthurium rooting and development. All our evidences are sufficient to support the disease resistance conferred by P. indica through the plant-fungal symbiosis. Furthermore, it implicates that P. indica has strong potential as bio-fertilizer for utilization in ornamental plant cultivation.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Acids / Agriculture / Anthurium / Anthurium andraeanum / Anthuriums / Araceae - growth & development / Araceae - immunology / Araceae - microbiology / Bacterial diseases / Bacterial infections / bacterial wilt / Basidiomycota / Basidiomycota - physiology / Biofertilizers / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Cultivation / Disease / Disease Resistance / Disease resistance (Plants) / Disease susceptibility / Diseases and pests / Elongation / Endophytes / Endophytes - physiology / Enzymes / Fertilizers / flowers / Flowers & plants / Fungi / Genes / Growth promotion / Infection / Jasmonic acid / Life Sciences / Messenger RNA / Mortality / mRNA / Ornamental plants / Oxidative stress / Pathogenesis / Phosphorus / Photosynthesis / Physiological aspects / Piriformospora indica / Plant biochemistry / Plant growth / Plant Roots - microbiology / Plant Sciences / Plant-biotic interactions / Plantlets / Propagation / Research Article / RNA / root systems / Rooting / Roots (Botany) / soil / Symbiont / symbionts / Symbiosis / Testing / Tissue culture / Tree Biology / Wilt