Chapter 11
Endophytes as Plant Nutrient
Uptake-Promoter in Plants
Carlos García-Latorre, Sara Rodrigo, and Oscar Santamaría
Abstract Endophytic fungi, while living asymptomatically within plants, may
confer competitive advantages such as resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses.
Among them, the improvement in plant nutrient uptake is a phenomenon that has
been explored for its potential use in agriculture, especially considering the need for
a more sustainable farming model that integrates soil regeneration cycle and mitigation of the climate change effects. The utilization of fungal endophytes may enhance
the absorption of macro and micronutrients for a wide diversity of plant species,
which may reduce the application of chemical fertilizers. The processes involved
in this higher nutrient uptake range from (i) the production of phytochemicals-like
substances that favor root growth and increase mass flow or root interception of
nutrients, (ii) by production of siderophores that bind Fe
3+ , (iii) performing beneficial interaction with other soil organisms (iv) the interception of nutrients via hyphae,
and (v) due to the secretion of substances such as hydrolytic enzymes that increase
nutrient solubilization. These effects may counter multiple benefits to plants growing
under stressful conditions. The main role of endophytes in mineral nutrient uptake
in plants has been elucidated.
Keywords Fungal endophytes · Nutrient uptake · Biotic and abiotic stress
11.1 Introduction
Fungal endophytes are an important group of plant microbes living asymptomatically and sometimes systemically within plant tissues (Carroll 1991; Hardoim
C. García-Latorre · S. Rodrigo
School of Agricultural Engineering. Institute of Dehesa Research, University of Extremadura,
Avda., Adolfo Suárez s/n 06007 Badajoz, Spain
O. Santamaría (B)
Department of Construction and Agronomy, University of Salamanca, Avenida Cardenal Cisneros
34, 49029 Zamora, Spain
e-mail: osantama@usal.es
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. K. Maheshwari and S. Dheeman (eds.), Endophytes: Mineral Nutrient
Management, Volume 3, Sustainable Development and Biodiversity 26,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65447-4_11
247
Endophytes as Plant Nutrient
Uptake-Promoter in Plants
Carlos García-Latorre, Sara Rodrigo, and Oscar Santamaría
Abstract Endophytic fungi, while living asymptomatically within plants, may
confer competitive advantages such as resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses.
Among them, the improvement in plant nutrient uptake is a phenomenon that has
been explored for its potential use in agriculture, especially considering the need for
a more sustainable farming model that integrates soil regeneration cycle and mitigation of the climate change effects. The utilization of fungal endophytes may enhance
the absorption of macro and micronutrients for a wide diversity of plant species,
which may reduce the application of chemical fertilizers. The processes involved
in this higher nutrient uptake range from (i) the production of phytochemicals-like
substances that favor root growth and increase mass flow or root interception of
nutrients, (ii) by production of siderophores that bind Fe
3+ , (iii) performing beneficial interaction with other soil organisms (iv) the interception of nutrients via hyphae,
and (v) due to the secretion of substances such as hydrolytic enzymes that increase
nutrient solubilization. These effects may counter multiple benefits to plants growing
under stressful conditions. The main role of endophytes in mineral nutrient uptake
in plants has been elucidated.
Keywords Fungal endophytes · Nutrient uptake · Biotic and abiotic stress
11.1 Introduction
Fungal endophytes are an important group of plant microbes living asymptomatically and sometimes systemically within plant tissues (Carroll 1991; Hardoim
C. García-Latorre · S. Rodrigo
School of Agricultural Engineering. Institute of Dehesa Research, University of Extremadura,
Avda., Adolfo Suárez s/n 06007 Badajoz, Spain
O. Santamaría (B)
Department of Construction and Agronomy, University of Salamanca, Avenida Cardenal Cisneros
34, 49029 Zamora, Spain
e-mail: osantama@usal.es
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. K. Maheshwari and S. Dheeman (eds.), Endophytes: Mineral Nutrient
Management, Volume 3, Sustainable Development and Biodiversity 26,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65447-4_11
247