252
C. García-Latorre et al.
11.3 Endophytes Mediated Mechanisms of Action
to Enhance Nutrients Uptake
Several mechanisms have been proposed to be involved in the enhancement of the
mineral uptake by host plant as a consequence of the endophyte infection (Fig. 11.1).
The production of substances with plant growth promoting (PGP) properties, such
as phytohormone-like substances (i.e. auxins, gibberellins, etc.) and phytochemicals has highly beneficial effects on the growth enhancement of the host plant
(Khan et al. 2016). Earlier, Assuero et al. (2006) reported enhancement of root
growth which resulted in a greater mineral absorption due to their larger soil colonization and exploration capacity. This finding has also been evidenced by Harman
et al. (2004) while observing the effects of Trichoderma species, or by Ferus et al.
(2019), who described a higher root growth in red oak seedlings inoculated with the
Fig. 11.1 Main mechanisms involved in the increase of nutrient uptake by endophyte-infected
plants
C. García-Latorre et al.
11.3 Endophytes Mediated Mechanisms of Action
to Enhance Nutrients Uptake
Several mechanisms have been proposed to be involved in the enhancement of the
mineral uptake by host plant as a consequence of the endophyte infection (Fig. 11.1).
The production of substances with plant growth promoting (PGP) properties, such
as phytohormone-like substances (i.e. auxins, gibberellins, etc.) and phytochemicals has highly beneficial effects on the growth enhancement of the host plant
(Khan et al. 2016). Earlier, Assuero et al. (2006) reported enhancement of root
growth which resulted in a greater mineral absorption due to their larger soil colonization and exploration capacity. This finding has also been evidenced by Harman
et al. (2004) while observing the effects of Trichoderma species, or by Ferus et al.
(2019), who described a higher root growth in red oak seedlings inoculated with the
Fig. 11.1 Main mechanisms involved in the increase of nutrient uptake by endophyte-infected
plants