Revealing the mechanisms of nutrient status dependent Plant growth promotion effects by endophytic Colletotrichum species

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K18645
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Plant protection science
• Research Institution: Nara Institute of Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Hiruma Kei 奈良先端科学技術大学院大学, バイオサイエンス研究科, 助教 (20714504)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 内生糸状菌 / 植物生長促進 / Colletotrichum / シロイヌナズナ / リン / 根 / 炭疽病菌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Various endophytic fungi associate with plants in nature, but it is unclear whether these provide host fitness benefits. Although most characterized species of the fungal genus Colletotrichum are pathogens causing anthracnose diseases on various plant species, I found that C. tofieldiae (Ct) colonizes roots of brassica plants including Arabidopsis without causing disease symptoms. Ct transfers phosphorus to shoots, promotes plant growth only under phosphorus-limiting conditions. The host’s phosphate starvation response (PSR) system regulates Ct root colonization and is required for plant growth promotion (PGP). PGP also requires a host tryptophan-derived metabolites, components of plant immune responses. These results indicate a functional link between immunity and the PSR system during beneficial interactions with Ct.

Free Research Field

植物微生物相互作用