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Fungal Endophytes of Plants: Friend or Foe?
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Fungal Endophytes of Plants: Friend or Foe?

A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X). This special issue belongs to the section "Fungi in Agriculture and Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2025) | Viewed by 2501

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Rebecca Creamer

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
Interests: pests and diseases; plant pathology; curly top virus; fungal endophyte of locoweed; plant diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fungal endophytes, fungi that live inside of plants, interact with plants as beneficials, commensals, or pathogens. The roles of the endophytes may change as the plant matures or with changes in environmental conditions. Understanding the ecology and epidemiology of endophytes and characterizing the fungal plant interactions are essential. This Special Issue will cover a variety of topics on fungal endophytes including their plant interactions, their ecological roles, characterization of the biology of the endophytes, and transmission of the endophytes. In addition, this Special Issue may include toxins or other secondary metabolites produced by endophytes and the pathogenicity of the endophytes, as well as how fungal endophytes influence the microbiota of the host plant and the rhizosphere microbiota.

Research completed at the Guest Editor's laboratory: The Creamer laboratory studies the roles that fungal endophytes of poisonous plants such as locoweeds play in the toxicity of the plant. They are characterizing the Alternaria section Undifilum sp., Slafractonia leguminicola and the Chaetothyriales endophyte of Ipomoea, which produce the toxin swainsonine that is poisonous to grazing animals. The lab investigates the genetics of the fungi and toxic plants and the ecological roles of the fungi within their host plants. The lab also characterizes the toxin biosynthetic pathway in various swainsonine-producing fungi. Rebecca Creamer and her lab have published 33 papers related to fungal endophytes and their poisonous plant hosts. 

Prof. Dr. Rebecca Creamer
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Fungi is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fungal endophyte
  • ecology
  • transmission
  • pathogenicity

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1008 KiB  
Article
Identification and Characterization of Three Epichloë Endophytes Isolated from Wild Barley in China
by Zhengfeng Wang, Feng Zhao, Qijun Bao, Xiaoning Liu and Cheng Guo
J. Fungi 2025, 11(2), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11020142 - 13 Feb 2025
Viewed by 537
Abstract
Epichloë endophytes have been found in cool-season grasses and can produce alkaloids that are toxic to vertebrates and insects. Due to their beneficial effects, Epichloë can provide plants with resistance to some abiotic and biotic stresses. The biological and physiological characteristics of the [...] Read more.
Epichloë endophytes have been found in cool-season grasses and can produce alkaloids that are toxic to vertebrates and insects. Due to their beneficial effects, Epichloë can provide plants with resistance to some abiotic and biotic stresses. The biological and physiological characteristics of the endophytic strains XJE1, XJE2, and XJE3 isolated from wild barley were measured across a range of pH, salt concentrations, and growth values. The phylogenetic position of the Epichloë isolates was examined using the tefA and actG genes. The optimal pH values for mycelial growth of XJE1, XJE2, and XJE3 were 7–8, 6–7, and 8–9, respectively. The isolates grew significantly better at 0.3 mol/L NaCl than at 0.5 mol/L and 0.1 mol/L NaCl. Based on the conidiophore and conidia morphology, growth characteristics, and phylogenetic relationships, the endophyte isolated from wild barley is likely Epichloë bromicola. These isolates exhibited differences in mating types and alkaloid biosynthesis genes. Screening for salt tolerance and alkaloid biosynthetic genes in endophytic strains will provide new insights into useful traits to breed into new forage germplasms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Endophytes of Plants: Friend or Foe?)
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17 pages, 3257 KiB  
Article
Pantoea–Bacillus as a Composite Microbial Community: Inhibition and Potential Mechanism Against Potato Anthracnose Disease
by Haojie Zhang, Huiqin Shi, Mingkai Luo, Yanan Li, Wei Li, Jian Wang and Shuo Shen
J. Fungi 2025, 11(2), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11020121 - 5 Feb 2025
Viewed by 696
Abstract
The potato (Solanum tuberosum), an important component of global food security, often faces threats from various diseases during its growth process, especially potato anthracnose (Colletotrichum coccodes), which severely affects crop yield and quality. In this study, we successfully isolated [...] Read more.
The potato (Solanum tuberosum), an important component of global food security, often faces threats from various diseases during its growth process, especially potato anthracnose (Colletotrichum coccodes), which severely affects crop yield and quality. In this study, we successfully isolated and identified two bacteria with potential for biological control, (Pantoea agglomerans) and (Bacillus subtilis). The experimental results indicate that the bacterial suspensions of strains JZ-1-1-1 and JZ-2-2-2 had a significant inhibitory effect on the pathogen ZL-7, with the inhibition rate of JZ-1-1-1 reaching as high as 55.21%. The inhibition rate of JZ-2-2-2 was 53.48%. When these two strains were mixed at a 4:6 ratio, the inhibitory effect on pathogenic bacteria was even more significant, reaching 68.58% inhibition. In addition, the composite microbial community produced biofilms with their yield gradually increasing within 24 h and showing a slight decrease after 72 h. The efficacy test further indicated that the composite bacterial suspension was highly effective in controlling the spread of lesions, with an efficacy rate as high as 81.40%. In the analysis of defense enzyme activity, peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels peaked on day seven, while the composite bacterial suspension significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity. Quantitative real-time PCR confirmed that these two strains effectively colonized the surface of potato tubers. In summary, this study provides an important theoretical basis and practical guidance for the application of biological methods for the prevention and control of potato anthracnose. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Endophytes of Plants: Friend or Foe?)
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15 pages, 1608 KiB  
Article
Induced Defense in Ryegrass–Epichloë Symbiosis Against Listronotus bonariensis: Impact on Peramine Levels and Pest Performance
by Manuel Chacón-Fuentes, Gunnary León-Finalé, Marcelo Lizama, Gastón Gutiérrez-Gamboa, Daniel Martínez-Cisterna, Andrés Quiroz and Leonardo Bardehle
J. Fungi 2025, 11(1), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11010050 - 9 Jan 2025
Viewed by 748
Abstract
The Argentine stem weevil (ASW), a major pest in ryegrass pastures, causes significant agricultural losses. Ryegrass can establish a symbiotic association with Epichloë endophytic fungi, which supply chemical defenses, including peramine. This symbiosis helps protect ryegrass by providing peramine, which acts as a [...] Read more.
The Argentine stem weevil (ASW), a major pest in ryegrass pastures, causes significant agricultural losses. Ryegrass can establish a symbiotic association with Epichloë endophytic fungi, which supply chemical defenses, including peramine. This symbiosis helps protect ryegrass by providing peramine, which acts as a primary defense. In addition, ryegrass can activate induced defense mechanisms, with peramine remaining the central agent in response to herbivorous insect attacks. Therefore, this study assessed the feeding of the ASW on ryegrass carrying endophytic fungus and peramine levels in aerial organs and its effects on pest performance. Argentine stem weevil adults and larvae were placed on ryegrass leaves and stems to assess feeding. Two treatments were used: endophyte-free plants and endophyte-colonized plants. After ASW feeding damage, insect consumption was measured by the leaf area consumed. To evaluate peramine production and its increase in response to ASW attack, peramine levels in leaves were analyzed using liquid chromatography. Damaged E+ ryegrass plants showed significant increases in peramine, with adult and larval herbivory raising levels by 291% and 216% in stems and by 135% and 85% in leaves, respectively, compared to controls. Endophyte-free (E−) plants experienced more ASW damage, as insects preferred feeding on them, showing reduced activity as peramine levels rose in endophyte-infected (E+) plants. An oviposition assay confirmed insect preference for endophyte-free (E−) plants. Additionally, larvae reared on endophyte-infected (E+) plants had lower survival rates, correlating negatively with peramine levels. These results emphasize peramine’s role in strengthening ryegrass defenses against ASW, impacting both feeding and larval development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Endophytes of Plants: Friend or Foe?)
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