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Parrott DL, Baxter BK. Fungi of Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA: a spatial survey. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2024; 5:1438347. [PMID: 39347460 PMCID: PMC11427377 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2024.1438347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
The natural system at Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA was augmented by the construction of a rock-filled railroad causeway in 1960, creating two lakes at one site. The north arm is sequestered from the mountain snowmelt inputs and thus became saturated with salts (250-340 g/L). The south arm is a flourishing ecosystem with moderate salinity (90-190 g/L) and a significant body of water for ten million birds on the avian flyways of the western US who engorge themselves on the large biomass of brine flies and shrimp. The sediments around the lake shores include calcium carbonate oolitic sand and clay, and further away from the saltwater margins, a zone with less saline soil. Here a small number of plants can thrive, including Salicornia and Sueda species. At the north arm at Rozel Point, halite crystals precipitate in the salt-saturated lake water, calcium sulfate precipitates to form gypsum crystals embedded in the clay, and high molecular weight asphalt seeps from the ground. It is an ecosystem with gradients and extremes, and fungi are up to the challenge. We have collected data on Great Salt Lake fungi from a variety of studies and present them here in a spatial survey. Combining knowledge of cultivation studies as well as environmental DNA work, we discuss the genera prevalent in and around this unique ecosystem. A wide diversity of taxa were found in multiple microniches of the lake, suggesting significant roles for these genera: Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Clydae, Coniochaeta, Cryptococcus, Malassezia, Nectria, Penicillium, Powellomyces, Rhizophlyctis, and Wallemia. Considering the species present and the features of Great Salt Lake as a terminal basin, we discuss of the possible roles of the fungi. These include not only nutrient cycling, toxin mediation, and predation for the ecosystem, but also roles that would enable other life to thrive in the water and on the shore. Many genera that we discovered may help other organisms in alleviating salinity stress, promoting growth, or affording protection from dehydration. The diverse taxa of Great Salt Lake fungi provide important benefits for the ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bonnie K. Baxter
- Great Salt Lake Institute, Westminster University, Salt Lake
City, UT, United States
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Shan J, Peng F, Yu J, Li Q. Identification and Characterization of a Plant Endophytic Fungus Paraphaosphaeria sp. JRF11 and Its Growth-Promoting Effects. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:120. [PMID: 38392792 PMCID: PMC10890554 DOI: 10.3390/jof10020120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Endophytic fungi establish mutualistic relationships with host plants and can promote the growth and development of plants. In this study, the endophytic fungus JRF11 was isolated from Carya illinoinensis. Sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and 18S rRNA gene combined with colonial and conidial morphology identified JRF11 as a Paraphaosphaeria strain. Plant-fungus interaction assays revealed that JRF11 showed significant growth-promoting effects on plants. In particular, JRF11 significantly increased the root biomass and soluble sugar content of plants. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis demonstrated that JRF11 treatment reprogrammed a variety of genes involved in plant mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and starch and sucrose metabolism pathways through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Our research indicates that beneficial endophytic fungi are able to interact with plants and exhibit outstanding plant growth-promoting activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Shan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Fangren Peng
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Jinping Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Qi Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China
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Toppo P, Jangir P, Mehra N, Kapoor R, Mathur P. Bioprospecting of endophytic fungi from medicinal plant Anisomeles indica L. for their diverse role in agricultural and industrial sectors. Sci Rep 2024; 14:588. [PMID: 38182714 PMCID: PMC10770348 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-51057-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Endophytes are microorganisms that inhabit various plant parts and cause no damage to the host plants. During the last few years, a number of novel endophytic fungi have been isolated and identified from medicinal plants and were found to be utilized as bio-stimulants and bio fertilizers. In lieu of this, the present study aims to isolate and identify endophytic fungi associated with the leaves of Anisomeles indica L. an important medicinal plant of the Terai-Duars region of West Bengal. A total of ten endophytic fungi were isolated from the leaves of A. indica and five were identified using ITS1/ITS4 sequencing based on their ability for plant growth promotion, secondary metabolite production, and extracellular enzyme production. Endophytic fungal isolates were identified as Colletotrichum yulongense Ai1, Colletotrichum cobbittiense Ai2, Colletotrichum alienum Ai2.1, Colletotrichum cobbittiense Ai3, and Fusarium equiseti. Five isolates tested positive for their plant growth promotion potential, while isolates Ai4. Ai1, Ai2, and Ai2.1 showed significant production of secondary metabolites viz. alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, etc. Isolate Ai2 showed maximum total phenolic concentration (25.98 mg g-1), while isolate Ai4 showed maximum total flavonoid concentration (20.10 mg g-1). Significant results were observed for the production of extracellular enzymes such as cellulases, amylases, laccases, lipases, etc. The isolates significantly influenced the seed germination percentage of tomato seedlings and augmented their growth and development under in vitro assay. The present work comprehensively tested these isolates and ascertained their huge application for the commercial utilization of these isolates both in the agricultural and industrial sectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabha Toppo
- Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of North Bengal, Rajarammohunpur, Dist. Darjeeling, West Bengal, 734013, India
| | - Pooja Jangir
- Plant-Fungus Interactions Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Namita Mehra
- Plant-Fungus Interactions Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Rupam Kapoor
- Plant-Fungus Interactions Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Piyush Mathur
- Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of North Bengal, Rajarammohunpur, Dist. Darjeeling, West Bengal, 734013, India.
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Aizaz M, Lubna, Ahmad W, Khan I, Asaf S, Bilal S, Jan R, Asif S, Waqas M, Khan AL, Kim KM, AL-Harrasi A. Exploring the potential of halotolerant bacteria from coastal regions to mitigate salinity stress in wheat: physiological, molecular, and biochemical insights. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1224731. [PMID: 37810397 PMCID: PMC10556533 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1224731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Salinity stress, a significant global abiotic stress, is caused by various factors such as irrigation with saline water, fertilizer overuse, and drought conditions, resulting in reduced agricultural production and sustainability. In this study, we investigated the use of halotolerant bacteria from coastal regions characterized by high salinity as a solution to address the major environmental challenge of salinity stress. To identify effective microbial strains, we isolated and characterized 81 halophilic bacteria from various sources, such as plants, rhizosphere, algae, lichen, sea sediments, and sea water. We screened these bacterial strains for their plant growth-promoting activities, such as indole acetic acid (IAA), phosphate solubilization, and siderophore production. Similarly, the evaluation of bacterial isolates through bioassay revealed that approximately 22% of the endophytic isolates and 14% of rhizospheric isolates exhibited a favorable influence on seed germination and seedling growth. Among the tested isolates, GREB3, GRRB3, and SPSB2 displayed a significant improvement in all growth parameters compared to the control. As a result, these three isolates were utilized to evaluate their efficacy in alleviating the negative impacts of salt stress (150 mM, 300 mM, and seawater (SW)) on the growth of wheat plants. The result showed that shoot length significantly increased in plants inoculated with bacterial isolates up to 15% (GREB3), 16% (GRRB3), and 24% (SPSB2), respectively, compared to the control. The SPSB2 strain was particularly effective in promoting plant growth and alleviating salt stress. All the isolates exhibited a more promotory effect on root length than shoot length. Under salt stress conditions, the GRRB3 strain significantly impacted root length, leading to a boost of up to 6%, 5%, and 3.8% at 150 mM, 300 mM, and seawater stress levels, respectively. The bacterial isolates also positively impacted the plant's secondary metabolites and antioxidant enzymes. The study also identified the WDREB2 gene as highly upregulated under salt stress, whereas DREB6 was downregulated. These findings demonstrate the potential of beneficial microbes as a sustainable approach to mitigate salinity stress in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Aizaz
- Natural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Lubna
- Natural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Waqar Ahmad
- Department of Engineering Technology, University of Houston, Sugar Land, TX, United States
| | - Ibrahim Khan
- Natural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Sajjad Asaf
- Natural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Saqib Bilal
- Natural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Rahmatullah Jan
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Saleem Asif
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Muhammad Waqas
- Department of Agriculture Extension, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Latif Khan
- Department of Engineering Technology, University of Houston, Sugar Land, TX, United States
| | - Kyung-Min Kim
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Ahmed AL-Harrasi
- Natural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
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Aizaz M, Khan I, Lubna, Asaf S, Bilal S, Jan R, Khan AL, Kim KM, AL-Harrasi A. Enhanced Physiological and Biochemical Performance of Mung Bean and Maize under Saline and Heavy Metal Stress through Application of Endophytic Fungal Strain SL3 and Exogenous IAA. Cells 2023; 12:1960. [PMID: 37566039 PMCID: PMC10417269 DOI: 10.3390/cells12151960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Modern irrigation practices and industrial pollution can contribute to the simultaneous occurrence of salinity and heavy metal contamination in large areas of the world, resulting in significant negative effects on crop productivity and sustainability. This study aimed to investigate the growth-promoting potentials of an important endophytic fungal strain SL3 and to compare its potential with exogenous IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) in the context of salt and heavy metal stress. The strain was assessed for plant growth-promoting traits such as the production of indole-3-acetic acid, gibberellins (GA), and siderophore. We selected two important crops, mung bean and maize, and examined various physiological and biochemical characteristics under 300 mM NaCl and 2.5 mM Pb stress conditions, with and without the application of IAA and SL3. This study's results demonstrated that both IAA and SL3 positively impacted the growth and development of plants under normal and stressed conditions. In NaCl and Pb-induced stress conditions, the growth of mung bean and maize plants was significantly reduced. However, the application of IAA and SL3 helped to alleviate stress, leading to a significant increase in shoot/root length and weight compared to IAA and SL3 non-treated plants. The results revealed that photosynthetic pigments, accumulation of catalase (CAT), phenolic contents, polyphenol oxidase, and flavanols are higher in the IAA and SL3-treated plants than in the non-inoculated plants. This study's findings revealed that applying the SL3 fungal strain positively influenced various physiological and biochemical processes in tested plant species under normal and stress conditions of NaCl and Pb. These findings also suggested that SL3 could be a potential replacement for widely used IAA to promote plant growth by improving photosynthetic efficiency, reducing oxidative stress, and enhancing metabolic activities in plants, including mung and maize. Moreover, this study highlights that SL3 has synergistic effects with IAA in enhancing resilience to salt and heavy stress and offers a promising avenue for future agricultural applications in salt and heavy metal-affected regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Aizaz
- Natural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, Oman; (M.A.); (I.K.); (L.); (S.A.)
| | - Ibrahim Khan
- Natural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, Oman; (M.A.); (I.K.); (L.); (S.A.)
| | - Lubna
- Natural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, Oman; (M.A.); (I.K.); (L.); (S.A.)
| | - Sajjad Asaf
- Natural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, Oman; (M.A.); (I.K.); (L.); (S.A.)
| | - Saqib Bilal
- Natural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, Oman; (M.A.); (I.K.); (L.); (S.A.)
| | - Rahmatullah Jan
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea;
| | - Abdul Latif Khan
- Department of Engineering Technology, University of Houston, Sugar Land, TX 77479, USA;
| | - Kyung-Min Kim
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea;
| | - Ahmed AL-Harrasi
- Natural and Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, Oman; (M.A.); (I.K.); (L.); (S.A.)
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