11 Endophytes as Plant Nutrient Uptake-Promoter in Plants
259
lateritium, which caused a decrease in the Al concentration in the aboveground
biomass in both greenhouse and field conditions (Lledó et al. 2016). The high Al
content in forage is not desirable due to the antagonistic metabolism of Al and P, and
the negative effects of Al on lambs’ appetite (Krueger et al. 1984). These findings
may allow the use of the forage produced in soils with a high concentration of Al by
the livestock more safely.
11.5 Conclusion
Although not many studies have exclusively dealt with the enhanced capacity
of fungal endophytes-infected plants for nutrients uptake, the available literature
revealed promising results in this field. Thus, fungal endophytes have been proved to
be a suitable strategy to increase nutrient uptake and to reduce soil metal pollution or
salinization due to anthropogenic activities or climate change. Several mechanisms
have been proposed for the enhancement of nutrient uptake in the plant caused by
endophytes. The secretion of siderophores to bind Fe, the solubilization of P to make
it more absorbable by root, or the transport of N via hyphae from soil to roots are
well documented. Besides, fungal endophytes can secrete compounds favoring the
chelation of heavy metals into soil, avoiding their uptake by plants, as well as the
accumulation in the mycelia to help plants living in polluted soils. These findings are
considered to resolve the issue of lowering the plant sustainability by the involvement
of endophytes in plant nutrients uptake.
References
Aciego Pietri JC, Brookes PC (2009) Substrate inputs and pH as factors controlling microbial
biomass, activity and community structure in an arable soil. Soil Biol Biochem. https://doi.org/
10.1016/j.soilbio.2009.03.017
Ahlholm JU, Helander M, Lehtimäki S, Wäli P, Saikkonen K (2002) Vertically transmitted fungal
endophytes: Different responses of host-parasite systems to environmental conditions. Oikos.
https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0706.2002.990118.x
Almario J, Jeena G, Wunder J, Langen G, Zuccaro A, Coupland G, Bucher M (2017) Root-associated
fungal microbiota of nonmycorrhizal Arabis alpina and its contribution to plant phosphorus
nutrition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1710455114
Altomare C, Norvell WA, Björkman T, Harman GE (1999) Solubilization of phosphates and
micronutrients by the plant-growth- promoting and biocontrol fungus Trichoderma harzianum
Rifai 1295-22. Appl Environ Microbiol 65:2926–2933
Antunes PM, Miller J, Carvalho LM, Klironomos JN, Newman JA (2008) Even after death the
endophytic fungus of Schedonorus phoenix reduces the arbuscular mycorrhizas of other plants.
Funct Ecol. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2435.2008.01432.x
Arnold AE, Maynard Z, Gilbert GS, Coley PD, Kursar TA (2000) Are tropical fungal endophytes
hyperdiverse? Ecol Lett. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1461-0248.2000.00159.x
259
lateritium, which caused a decrease in the Al concentration in the aboveground
biomass in both greenhouse and field conditions (Lledó et al. 2016). The high Al
content in forage is not desirable due to the antagonistic metabolism of Al and P, and
the negative effects of Al on lambs’ appetite (Krueger et al. 1984). These findings
may allow the use of the forage produced in soils with a high concentration of Al by
the livestock more safely.
11.5 Conclusion
Although not many studies have exclusively dealt with the enhanced capacity
of fungal endophytes-infected plants for nutrients uptake, the available literature
revealed promising results in this field. Thus, fungal endophytes have been proved to
be a suitable strategy to increase nutrient uptake and to reduce soil metal pollution or
salinization due to anthropogenic activities or climate change. Several mechanisms
have been proposed for the enhancement of nutrient uptake in the plant caused by
endophytes. The secretion of siderophores to bind Fe, the solubilization of P to make
it more absorbable by root, or the transport of N via hyphae from soil to roots are
well documented. Besides, fungal endophytes can secrete compounds favoring the
chelation of heavy metals into soil, avoiding their uptake by plants, as well as the
accumulation in the mycelia to help plants living in polluted soils. These findings are
considered to resolve the issue of lowering the plant sustainability by the involvement
of endophytes in plant nutrients uptake.
References
Aciego Pietri JC, Brookes PC (2009) Substrate inputs and pH as factors controlling microbial
biomass, activity and community structure in an arable soil. Soil Biol Biochem. https://doi.org/
10.1016/j.soilbio.2009.03.017
Ahlholm JU, Helander M, Lehtimäki S, Wäli P, Saikkonen K (2002) Vertically transmitted fungal
endophytes: Different responses of host-parasite systems to environmental conditions. Oikos.
https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0706.2002.990118.x
Almario J, Jeena G, Wunder J, Langen G, Zuccaro A, Coupland G, Bucher M (2017) Root-associated
fungal microbiota of nonmycorrhizal Arabis alpina and its contribution to plant phosphorus
nutrition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1710455114
Altomare C, Norvell WA, Björkman T, Harman GE (1999) Solubilization of phosphates and
micronutrients by the plant-growth- promoting and biocontrol fungus Trichoderma harzianum
Rifai 1295-22. Appl Environ Microbiol 65:2926–2933
Antunes PM, Miller J, Carvalho LM, Klironomos JN, Newman JA (2008) Even after death the
endophytic fungus of Schedonorus phoenix reduces the arbuscular mycorrhizas of other plants.
Funct Ecol. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2435.2008.01432.x
Arnold AE, Maynard Z, Gilbert GS, Coley PD, Kursar TA (2000) Are tropical fungal endophytes
hyperdiverse? Ecol Lett. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1461-0248.2000.00159.x