Endophytic fungus Beauveria bassiana can enhance drought tolerance in red oak seedlings

Key message Endophytic fungus, usually treated as an entomopathogenic agent, can provide drought stress tolerance to red oak seedlings. Its effect is realized through root growth stimulation. Endophytic fungi are known to be active in the plant environmental stress alleviation. In this work, we prov...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trees (Berlin, West) West), 2019-08, Vol.33 (4), p.1179-1186
Main Authors: Ferus, Peter, Barta, Marek, Konôpková, Jana
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agriculture
Beauveria bassiana
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Carbon 13
Carbon isotopes
Conductance
Dehydration
Drought
Drought resistance
Endophytes
Entomopathogenic fungi
Environmental stress
Forestry
Fungi
Life Sciences
Moisture content
Oak
Original Article
Plant Anatomy/Development
Plant growth
Plant Pathology
Plant Physiology
Plant Sciences
Proline
Regression analysis
Resistance
Seedlings
Stimulation
Stomata
Stomatal conductance
Transpiration
Water content
Water use
Water use efficiency
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Summary:Key message Endophytic fungus, usually treated as an entomopathogenic agent, can provide drought stress tolerance to red oak seedlings. Its effect is realized through root growth stimulation. Endophytic fungi are known to be active in the plant environmental stress alleviation. In this work, we proved the ability of endophytic Beauveria bassiana , which is almost exclusively treated as an entomopathogenic fungus, in mitigating drought stress in dehydrated red oak ( Quercus rubra L.) seedlings. Despite small differences between experiments, in general, leaf relative water content and stomatal conductance were less reduced (ca. 50% and 15%, respectively), free proline did not accumulate over the control level, carbon isotope 13 C discrimination/water use efficiency was not affected and root growth was stimulated at a similar plant transpiration area in the endophyte-colonised individuals. Regression analysis revealed that the root growth stimulation provided by the fungus under drought had the most important effect on their water status.
ISSN:0931-1890
1432-2285
DOI:10.1007/s00468-019-01854-1