How a fungus helps Scots pine trees grow and fight disease
Author Information
Author(s): Wen Zilan, Manninen Minna J., Asiegbu Fred O.
Primary Institution: University of Helsinki
Hypothesis
Pre-inoculation of plants with ECM fungi before fungal pathogen challenge would improve plant performance and help plant defense against pathogen infection.
Conclusion
The beneficial fungus S. luteus promoted primary root growth and had a balancing buffering role in plant defense responses and cell growth at the transcriptome level.
Supporting Evidence
- S. luteus inoculation improved primary root length and lateral root number in Scots pine seedlings.
- Co-inoculated plants showed a unique gene expression profile compared to pathogen-infected and control plants.
- Transcriptome analysis indicated that S. luteus suppressed plant defense responses while promoting growth.
Takeaway
A helpful fungus can make pine trees grow better and fight off diseases by changing how they respond to threats.
Methodology
Scots pine seedlings were inoculated with the fungus S. luteus before being exposed to the pathogen Heterobasidion annosum, and their growth and gene expression were analyzed.
Limitations
No mantle or Hartig net formation was observed, indicating a short experimental duration may have limited the assessment of mycorrhization.
Participant Demographics
Scots pine seedlings
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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