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Book ChapterDOI

Seed Endophytes: The Benevolent Existence in the Plant System

TL;DR: In this paper, the significance of seed endophytes, their entry, establishment, diversity, and interactions with host plants along with the applications in agriculture under changing climatic conditions.
Abstract: Endophytic microbial communities of crop plants interact intimately with hosts and are associated with almost every plant. Endophytic microorganisms exhibit an array of plant beneficial traits similar to those reported for plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Their localization inside the plant gives them an advantage over rhizobacteria in terms of availability of nutrients and shield against external unfavorable conditions. However, many microbial and host traits as well as environmental factors influence endophytic colonization. In the last decade, several reports have been published on the isolation of endophytic microorganisms from different plant tissues and their role in promoting plant growth under various environmental conditions. Seed endophytes are of great interest because of their capability to colonize the developing seeds, stay latent in the dormant seed, and transmit to the next generation after germination and plant development. Endophytic bacteria isolated from seeds have been found to produce antimicrobial compounds, phytohormones, enzymes, secondary metabolites, etc. that make them industrially as well as agriculturally very important. Application of seed endophytes has been reported to improve plant growth and physiological status under biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Limited studies have also reported their influence on plant gene expression resulting in altered physiological response. However, focused research is needed to study the vast diversity of endophytes in different crops and also to unravel their interaction with host plants, for their potential application in agriculture. The present book chapter aims to focus on the significance of seed endophytes, their entry, establishment, diversity, and interactions with host plants along with the applications in agriculture under changing climatic conditions. A better understanding of plant-endophyte interaction can help in the optimization of plant microbiome and microbe assisted breeding in the near future.
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This article used two co-occurring species from the genus Banksia from four sites in Australia's Sydney Basin Bioregion to investigate the abundance and diversity of seed fungal endophyte communities present in natural ecosystem hosts.
Abstract: Seed fungal endophytes play an important beneficial role in the formation of the seedling mycobiome and contribute to plant establishment, but can also occur as latent pathogens and saprotrophs. Current knowledge on the function and diversity of seed fungal endophytes has been gained through studies in agricultural systems whilst knowledge from natural systems is relatively less. We used two co-occurring species from the genus Banksia from four sites in Australia's Sydney Basin Bioregion to investigate the abundance and diversity of seed fungal endophyte communities present in natural ecosystem hosts. Based on results from culturing and DNA sequence analysis of multiple loci, we found that Banksia seeds house a diverse range of fungal endophyte species, that when assigned to functional guilds belonged to multiple trophic modes. Thirty-one of the fungal taxa identified had not been previously reported as endophytes. Amongst the 58 Operational Taxonomic Units identified, Leotiomycetes and Sordariomycetes were the dominant classes and Banksiamyces (Leotiomycetes) and Penicillium (Sordariomycetes) the dominant genera, with many of the species isolated recorded in the literature as having a limited distribution. The two Banksias shared few fungal endophyte species, which were not always present across all study sites. We revealed a 'hidden diversity' within seeds of Banksia from natural ecosystems and provided insights into the influence host species can have on the seed mycobiome.

1 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data further characterize the ultrastructural analysis of the KD mouse model, and support recent theories of a dying-back mechanism for neuronal degeneration, which is independent of demyelination.
Abstract: Krabbe disease (KD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the lack of β- galactosylceramidase enzymatic activity and by widespread accumulation of the cytotoxic galactosyl-sphingosine in neuronal, myelinating and endothelial cells. Despite the wide use of Twitcher mice as experimental model for KD, the ultrastructure of this model is partial and mainly addressing peripheral nerves. More details are requested to elucidate the basis of the motor defects, which are the first to appear during KD onset. Here we use transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to focus on the alterations produced by KD in the lower motor system at postnatal day 15 (P15), a nearly asymptomatic stage, and in the juvenile P30 mouse. We find mild effects on motorneuron soma, severe ones on sciatic nerves and very severe effects on nerve terminals and neuromuscular junctions at P30, with peripheral damage being already detectable at P15. Finally, we find that the gastrocnemius muscle undergoes atrophy and structural changes that are independent of denervation at P15. Our data further characterize the ultrastructural analysis of the KD mouse model, and support recent theories of a dying-back mechanism for neuronal degeneration, which is independent of demyelination.

10,233 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Attention is drawn to the perception and signalling processes (chemical and hydraulic) of water deficits, which are essential for a holistic understanding of plant resistance to stress, which is needed to improve crop management and breeding techniques.
Abstract: In the last decade, our understanding of the processes underlying plant response to drought, at the molecular and whole-plant levels, has rapidly progressed. Here, we review that progress. We draw attention to the perception and signalling processes (chemical and hydraulic) of water deficits. Knowledge of these processes is essential for a holistic understanding of plant resistance to stress, which is needed to improve crop management and breeding techniques. Hundreds of genes that are induced under drought have been identified. A range of tools, from gene expression patterns to the use of transgenic plants, is being used to study the specific function of these genes and their role in plant acclimation or adaptation to water deficit. However, because plant responses to stress are complex, the functions of many of the genes are still unknown. Many of the traits that explain plant adaptation to drought - such as phenology, root size and depth, hydraulic conductivity and the storage of reserves - are those associated with plant development and structure, and are constitutive rather than stress induced. But a large part of plant resistance to drought is the ability to get rid of excess radiation, a concomitant stress under natural conditions. The nature of the mechanisms responsible for leaf photoprotection, especially those related to thermal dissipation, and oxidative stress are being actively researched. The new tools that operate at molecular, plant and ecosystem levels are revolutionising our understanding of plant response to drought, and our ability to monitor it. Techniques such as genome-wide tools, proteomics, stable isotopes and thermal or fluorescence imaging may allow the genotype-phenotype gap to be bridged, which is essential for faster progress in stress biology research.

3,287 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review addresses the concept of endophytism, considering the latest insights into evolution, plant ecosystem functioning, and multipartite interactions.
Abstract: All plants are inhabited internally by diverse microbial communities comprising bacterial, archaeal, fungal, and protistic taxa. These microorganisms showing endophytic lifestyles play crucial roles in plant development, growth, fitness, and diversification. The increasing awareness of and information on endophytes provide insight into the complexity of the plant microbiome. The nature of plant-endophyte interactions ranges from mutualism to pathogenicity. This depends on a set of abiotic and biotic factors, including the genotypes of plants and microbes, environmental conditions, and the dynamic network of interactions within the plant biome. In this review, we address the concept of endophytism, considering the latest insights into evolution, plant ecosystem functioning, and multipartite interactions.

1,677 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The modulation of ethylene levels in plants by bacterially produced 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase is a key trait that enables interference with the physiology of the host plant, and this mechanism leads to the concept of 'competent' endophytes, defined asendophytes that are equipped with genes important for maintenance of plant-endophyte associations.

1,339 citations