Search Results (1,125)

To explore efficient and sustainable biocontrol resources against anthracnose in Begonia benariensis, endophytic fungi were isolated from healthy host tissues and screened for antagonistic activity against Colletotrichum aotearoa SWBG5. Among 31 isolates, four showed strong inhibition, and the most potent strain, QYN6, exhibited an in vitro mycelial inhibition rate of 63.67%. Based on morphology and multi-gene phylogeny (ITS, TUB2, TEF-1α), QYN6 was identified as Nigrospora sphaerica. Mechanistic assays revealed that QYN6 secretes multiple cell wall-degrading enzymes (chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, cellulase, protease) and displays hyperparasitism against the pathogen hyphae (entwining, deformation, swelling), acting synergistically to inhibit fungal growth. In greenhouse pot trials, QYN6 achieved a biocontrol efficacy of 48.91% against Begonia anthracnose. Additionally, QYN6 significantly activated host defense responses, increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, PPO, CAT) and the contents of soluble protein and soluble sugar. Furthermore, QYN6 exhibited multiple plant growth-promoting traits, including IAA production, siderophore synthesis, and potassium solubilization. Inoculation with QYN6 markedly improved plant height, leaf number, root length, and biomass of B. benariensis. Overall, N. sphaerica QYN6 possesses dual biocontrol and growth-promoting potential, providing a promising microbial resource and theoretical basis for green management of Begonia anthracnose. Full article

Mucormycosis is a devastating invasive fungal infection primarily caused by Mucor and Rhizopus species, presenting significant clinical challenges due to limited therapeutic options and emerging drug resistance in opportunistic yeasts such as Candida albicans. This study explores foliar endophytic fungi from Thai medicinal plants as potential reservoirs for novel bioactive metabolites targeting both fungal growth and virulence factors. We report the first isolation of Fusarium proliferatum as an endophyte from Lantana camara L. foliage (voucher number 01562), with its identity confirmed through morphological characterization and sequencing of the fungal ITS4/ITS5 regions. Antifungal susceptibility testing showed potent activity against a panel of environmental Mucorales, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 0.3 to 1 mg/L. In dual-culture assays, F. proliferatum demonstrated significant mycelial inhibition rates of 93.30% to 93.67% against Mucor spp. and 88.67% to 93.67% against Rhizopus spp. Furthermore, the crude extract exhibited a potent anti-virulence effect by suppressing the C. albicans yeast-to-hyphal transition, achieving up to 68% germination inhibition in resistant strains. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis identified 51 secondary metabolites, including the cyclic peptide beauvericin and various polyketides and indole derivatives. These findings suggest that F. proliferatum utilizes metabolic mimicry and adaptive synergy with its host plant to produce a diverse chemical arsenal. This study positions foliar endophytes of L. camara as promising candidates for the development of dual-action therapeutics to combat invasive and resistant mycoses. Full article

Fusarium root rot (caused by Fusarium verticillioides) is a destructive soilborne disease in maize, significantly reducing crop yields. The root symbiotic fungi Trichoderma species have been confirmed as effective biocontrol microbes for Fusarium root rot; however, the mechanistic role of Trichoderma-induced endophytes in suppressing Fusarium root rot in maize remains unclear. This study found that Trichoderma harzianum T30 significantly reduced the abundance of pathogens by 48.9% and increased the abundance of potentially antagonistic Bacillus strains (33%) in the root endophytic bacterial community. In addition, the hyd1 gene in T. harzianum T30 induced a 7.5-fold upregulation of ZmOPR7 in maize roots compared to the Δhyd1 mutant treatment, a gene related to the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway. Further, several endophytic Bacillus strains were specifically induced by a hyd1-overexpressing strain, including B. amyloliquefaciens MX66, B. velezensis C9, and B. velezensis GAGAN3. Three endophytes significantly (p < 0.05) reduced Fusarium root rot incidence in maize by 46.6–55.0% and upregulated the expression of jasmonic acid/ethylene (JA/ET) pathway-related genes (ZmOPR7, ZmOPR8 and ZmEIL1) by 5.4-, 1.5-, and 4.6-fold, respectively, compared to untreated controls. Meanwhile, the Bacillus strain also improved maize plant growth. This study examined how overexpression of the T. harzianum elicitor gene hyd1 (in the OE-hyd1 strain) affects the colonization dynamics of beneficial endophytic bacteria in maize roots. Additionally, it further suggested the contribution of selected endophytic Bacillus strains in suppressing Fusarium root rot in maize. Full article

Endophytic fungi contribute substantially to plant health, yet the diversity, community composition, and tissue distribution of culturable fungal endophytes in sweetpotato remain poorly characterized. In this study, endophytic fungi were isolated from roots, old stems, tender stems, petioles, and leaves of the scab-resistant leafy variety ‘Guangcaishu 16–19’, the scab-susceptible leafy variety ‘Guangcaishu No. 5’, and the tuberous variety ‘Guangshu 87’ were identified based on morphological characteristics and ITS sequencing. ITS sequencing identified 492 fungal isolates belonging to 63 putative taxa in 31 genera. Colletotrichum was the dominant genus in the leafy varieties, whereas Chaetomium was dominant in the tuberous variety. The isolated endophytic fungi were widely distributed and tissue-specific, with genus-level distribution following the pattern “leaves and stems > roots”. Alpha diversity followed the order ‘Guangcaishu 16–19’ > ‘Guangcaishu No. 5’ > ‘Guangshu 87’. The fungal communities of the leafy varieties were the most similar, and their root-associated communities exhibited higher alpha diversity than those of the tuberous variety. In addition, scab-resistant varieties exhibited higher endophytic fungal diversity. Overall, endophytic fungal communities in sweetpotato exhibited high alpha diversity, and significant differences in community structure were observed among variety tissues. These findings provide culturable fungal resources for future screening of beneficial endophytic fungi, bioactive metabolites, and potential biocontrol agents. Full article

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve plant performance, but how they coordinately influence root metabolism and associated bacterial communities in sweet potato remains unclear. Here, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Glomus intraradices inoculation on sweet potato seedlings by integrating analyses of rhizosphere soil properties, plant growth and nutrient uptake, root metabolomics, and rhizosphere and endophytic bacterial communities using 16S rRNA gene sequencing with FAPROTAX-based functional prediction. AMF inoculation significantly increased whole-plant fresh and dry biomass, potassium concentration and accumulation, and the accumulation of starch and water-soluble carbohydrates, while no significant effects were observed on dry matter rate or plant nitrogen and phosphorus concentration. In the rhizosphere, AMF reduced soil electrical conductivity and increased organic matter content without significantly affecting pH, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, or available potassium. Root metabolomic profiling identified 289 differential metabolites, with enrichment of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, porphyrin metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism, together with broad up-regulation of lipid-related metabolites. Bacterial communities showed strong compartment specificity, with the root endosphere displaying lower alpha diversity than the rhizosphere. Higher rhizosphere bacterial Shannon diversity was observed in the AMF treatment, together with compartment-dependent shifts in bacterial community composition; enrichment of endophytic taxa such as Devosia and Niastella was detected following AMF inoculation. Functional prediction further suggested niche differentiation between rhizosphere and endophytic bacteria, together with AMF-associated shifts in carbon- and nitrogen-related functions. Overall, these results suggest that G. intraradices inoculation is associated with enhanced sweet potato growth and enhanced potassium and carbohydrate accumulation in association with coordinated changes in rhizosphere conditions, root metabolism, and bacterial community assembly. Full article

The Gastrodia elata Blume (GE) life cycle is unique, since its successful germination and growth rely on symbiosis with specific fungi (e.g., Armillaria mellea). However, the community succession, tissue specificity and functional potential of endophytic and rhizosphere bacterial communities during the seed formation stage of GE remain unclear. Here, we used high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing to systematically explore the composition, diversity, and dynamic succession of bacterial communities across different stages of seed formation and among various tissues. Our results revealed that the endophytic community remained relatively stable across most developmental stages and tissue types (ANOSIM R = 0.4568, p = 0.001), with significant compositional shifts only occurring at the fruiting stage in specific tissues (stems and seeds). In contrast, the rhizosphere soil bacterial community showed stronger developmental succession (ANOSIM R = 0.7037, p = 0.001), with progressive divergence and the strongest segregation observed between the initial planting and fruiting stages. Alpha diversity peaked at the flowering stage for endophytic bacteria (Shannon index) and at the bud formation stage for rhizosphere soil bacteria, with persistent core taxa (Bacteroides in endophytic bacteria, Pseudarthrobacter in rhizosphere soil bacteria) dominating across stages. Functional predictions revealed stable core metabolic pathways, with stage-specific enrichments of glycolysis or gluconeogenesis at late developmental stages. These results provide novel ecological insights into the spatiotemporal dynamics of bacterial communities across different stages of GE seed formation, highlighting the distinct ecological strategies of endophytic and rhizosphere soil bacteria during the reproductive development of the plant. Full article

In vitro cultured plant calli, induced through dedifferentiation, are colonized by diverse endophytes. Most of these endophytes, being substantially inherited from the mother plant and highly dependent on the host’s internal ecological niche, are termed host-dependent endophytes (HDEs). Due to their close association with their hosts, HDEs exhibit heritable characteristics. However, our current understanding of plant HDEs and their effects on the host plant is limited. In this study, we characterized the composition and potential functions of the endophytic microbiota in grapevine calli derived from different varieties and organs corresponding to Cabernet Sauvignon berry flesh (CF), Rose Honey berry flesh (RF), and Rose Honey shoot tip (RS) using high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics. Our results showed that the genotype and organotype of the explant did not affect the alpha diversity of endophytes in callus, but were associated with differences in beta diversity and community structure of the endophytic microbiota. Different types of grapevines calli inherited distinct endophytes from their mother plants, whereas sharing a conservative core endophytic microbiota consisting of a small number of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) with high relative abundances (bacteria: 38 ASVs ranging from 79 to 92%; fungi: 9 ASVs ranging from 32 to 58). Prediction analyses using revealed conserved functional traits of the endophytic microbiota across callus types, including a core suite of bacterial adaptive phenotypes, stable central metabolism dominated by oxidative phosphorylation, and uniformly structured fungal communities dominated by saprotrophs and pathotrophs, while consistently containing yeast-form fungi. Although minor variations such as elevated trait abundance in the CF group were noted, no statistically significant functional divergence was observed, demonstrating that the endophytic microbiota of grapevine callus maintains a conserved functional profile across different types. Collectively, this study provides a methodological framework for investigating plant HDEs and offers new insights into host-endophyte interactions at the cellular level. Full article

This study aimed to separate and characterize compounds from Aspergillus tubingensis ZMGR14. The antifungal activities of monomer compounds and the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) layer from the fermented liquor of A. tubingensis were isolated, purified and structurally identified. The EtOAc layer from the fermented liquor showed significant antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria alternata with IC₅₀ values of 273.8 and 330.7 μg·mL⁻¹, respectively. The EtOAc extract was further purified by column chromatography and recrystallization to yield six compounds. Antifungal trials showed that Cyclo-(L-Pro-D-Leu) (5) exhibited the highest inhibition against A. alternata and F. oxysporum, with an IC₅₀ value of 48.1 and 232.7 μM, respectively, and cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Leu) (6) displayed moderate antifungal activity against Alternaria solani, with an IC₅₀ value of 493.4 μM. The results suggest that the EtOAc extract of ZMGR14 and its bioactive compounds hold promise as environmentally friendly microbial fungicides. Full article

Marine endophytic fungi inhabit the internal tissues of seaweed, seagrass, and mangroves without causing harm. These fungi are known to produce extracellular enzymes, including proteases and cellulases, which play crucial roles in various biological processes and have potential applications in diverse industrial sectors. This study aimed to screen the enzymatic potential of marine endophytic fungi, identify selected isolates, and characterize their enzyme activities. A total of 20 fungal isolates were obtained, comprising 16 isolates from seaweed, three from seagrass, and one from mangrove leaves, collected from the coastal areas of the Seribu Islands (Jakarta), Sukabumi (West Java), Nusa Dua (Bali), and the Buton Islands (Southeast Sulawesi). Screening results showed that 50% of the isolates exhibited proteolytic activity on skim milk agar, while 40% demonstrated cellulolytic activity on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) agar. Two isolates with the highest clear zone indices for protease and cellulase activity were identified as Penicillium citrinum and Fomitopsis sp., with distinct morphological characteristics including velvety colonies and filamentous hyphal structures. The specific activities of the protease and cellulase were 5475.42 ± 2724.25 U/mg protein and 620.77 ± 607.71 U/mg protein, respectively, indicating high catalytic potential. Full article

Endophytic fungi are promising sources of novel antiviral compounds, and the crude extract from Alternaria alternata PO4PR2 has previously shown anti-HIV-1 activity. This study evaluated its efficacy against integrase strand-transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-resistant HIV-1 and its mechanism of action. Key resistance mutations (Y143H, G118R, N155H, and R263K) were introduced into the HIV-1 pNL4.3 clone via site-directed mutagenesis and confirmed through Sanger sequencing. Viral infectivity was assessed in TZM-bl cells, while cytotoxicity was measured using an MTT assay. Antiviral activity was determined through a luciferase-based assay, and integration inhibition was evaluated using integrase activity assays and Alu-gag nested PCR. The extract demonstrated potent inhibition of resistant mutants, with low IC₅₀ values (0.02971–0.1652 μg/mL), and showed minimal cytotoxicity (CC₅₀ = 300 μg/mL), maintaining over 80% cell viability. It inhibited integrase activity by 67%, specifically targeting the strand-transfer step, and significantly reduced integrated viral DNA. Molecular docking of 14 compounds identified coumarin derivatives as key bioactive metabolites, exhibiting mutation-tolerant binding within the integrase catalytic pocket. Overall, these findings highlight PO4PR2 as a promising source of compounds for developing new therapies targeting drug-resistant HIV-1 integrase. Full article

Dark septate endophytes (DSE) and ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (ERMF) are employed to augment the abiotic stress resistance of fruits. However, their potential functions in enhancing the drought resistance of blueberry, an economically important fruit, remain unclear. Thus, this study aims to identify optimal inoculation combinations to enhance the drought resistance of blueberry seedlings. Specifically, the effects of single and dual inoculations with DSE (Cladosporium cladosporioides, D79) and ERMF (Oidiodendron citrinum, N12) on seedling physiology and metabolism were explored under varying drought conditions. The results showed that dual inoculation significantly improved leaf physiological characteristics. Under severe drought stress, the 1:2 DSE:ERMF ratio (D1N2) notably increased leaf relative water content (RWC) and reduced electrolyte leakage by up to 42.1% compared with the non-inoculated control. Dual inoculation also significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, with the smallest increase observed in D1N2. Regarding antioxidant enzymes, dual inoculation sustained higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity under moderate drought and minimized the decline in SOD activity under severe drought (the lowest decrease was 36.4% in D1N2 versus 56.7% in CK). Moreover, the antioxidant losses under drought stress were reduced by upregulating various metabolic processes, especially the biosynthesis of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan. A comprehensive evaluation suggested that inoculation with a 1:2 mixture of DSE and ERMF most effectively improved blueberry drought resistance, primarily by enhancing water and metabolite supply and stimulating the antioxidant defenses. Full article

An isolate of Peniophora lycii was obtained from grapevine, and its interactions with several grapevine-associated fungi and the plant host were examined. The fungus was not able to infect intact leaves, but necrotized the margins of foliar disks and caused necrosis and white rot in woody tissues. In dual cultures, P. lycii and Aureobasidium pullulans showed mutual antagonism. Mycoparsitism of P. lycii was observed on epiphytic Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria sp., and endophytic Botryosphaeria dothidea interaction partners. In contrast, P. lycii showed trophic growth towards endophytic Phaeomoniella chlamydospora without any signs of harmful interactions. Dual inoculations of foliar disks with epiphytic fungi revealed no effects of fungal interactions on necrosis development by pathogens and verified mycoparasitic interactions in planta. Co-infection assays of cuttings with endophytic pathogen fungi showed cumulative effects of fungal interactions on wood symptom expression, with the exclusive contribution of P. lycii to white rot development. In addition to providing the first isolation of P. lycii from grapevine and the description of its mycoparasitic behavior, the present study suggests that the fungus may act as an opportunistic grapevine pathogen, probably as a secondary colonizer in trunk diseases. The observed dual host preference may allow trunk disease pathogens to initially feed on fungi, followed by damage to the grapevine. This may be in connection with the exceptionally long latency of these syndromes. Full article

Background: Endophytic fungi are known for diverse bioactive compounds with immense potential for agriculture and medicinal applications. Coniochaeta dendrobiicola isolated from the roots of Dedrobium longicornu was investigated for its antioxidant and metabolite composition. The present study compares the antioxidant properties, flavonoid and phenolic contents and metabolic profiles of broth and mycelium extracts. The broth and mycelium extracts were tested for their antioxidant potential using DPPH, while the total flavonoid and phenolic contents were measured using a UV–VIS spectrophotometer. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) revealed a markedly richer and more diverse metabolite profile of putatively annotated compounds in the broth extract compared with the mycelium fraction. The broth extract exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activity and flavonoid and phenolic contents, correlating with the presence of diverse bioactive compounds, including indole derivatives, flavonoids, phenolic acids, quinoline derivatives, and antifungal metabolites. Notably, several indole-related and phenolic compounds detected predominantly in the broth are known for antioxidant, antimicrobial, and plant growth-promoting properties. These findings indicate that C. dendrobiicola actively secretes biologically relevant secondary metabolites into the extracellular medium, highlighting its potential for agricultural and pharmaceutical applications. Full article

Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is a central auxin regulating plant growth and developmental plasticity, including cell division, elongation, vascular differentiation, and root architecture. Beyond plants, many fungi—including endophytic fungi that reside within plant tissues without visible disease symptoms—can synthesize IAA and thereby modulate plant performance and plant–fungus interactions. However, fungal IAA biosynthesis remains less resolved than bacterial or plant pathways, and mechanistic evidence is uneven across taxa. This review summarizes recent (2020–2025) advances in IAA-producing endophytic fungi, the main proposed biosynthetic routes and intermediates, and methodological considerations for attributing IAA production to the fungal partner. The reported associations of fungal IAA with beneficial interactions are then discussed, including growth promotion, stress tolerance, and interaction-mediated changes in the root system’s architecture, with emphasis on the concentration- and context-dependent nature of plant responses. Overall, fungal IAA is associated with diverse plant–fungus interactions, as discussed in this review. Full article

Pinus cembroides is among the pine species best adapted to arid and semi-arid ecosystems in the Americas, and its potential distribution is projected to expand under climate change. However, the success of this expansion will depend on belowground processes, particularly the role of soil fungal communities, which in subtropical forests are key for nutrient cycling and plant resilience to environmental stress. Yet their vertical stratification and responses to forest management remain poorly understood, especially in semi-arid systems. Here, we characterized fungal communities from mineral soil and litter associated with P. cembroides across a forest management gradient (mature forests, disturbed stands, and pine plantations) at the southern limit of the species’ distribution. We evaluated the influence of climatic, edaphic, vegetation structure, and microbial activity variables (soil moisture, precipitation, pH, tree density, vegetation cover, temperature and extracellular enzyme activity) on fungal community composition. We found strong vertical stratification between litter and mineral soil. When both substrates were analyzed together as an integrated soil profile, forest condition had no significant effect on alpha diversity; however, substrate-specific analyses revealed higher richness in mineral soil of mature forests compared to disturbed and plantation sites, while litter communities showed no significant differences among conditions. Litter communities were characterized by saprotrophic and endophytic fungi, whereas mineral soil communities were enriched in ectomycorrhizal and other root-associated taxa. Distance-based redundancy analysis indicated that fungal community composition was primarily associated with moisture content, precipitation, pH, tree density, and carbon-degrading enzyme activity. These results highlight the importance of substrate differentiation and environmental gradients in shaping fungal communities in semi-arid pine forests, and provide a baseline for understanding how management and climate change influence soil fungal diversity and ecosystem functioning. Full article