Graduate student CARR Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China (People's Republic)
Body of Abstract: In nature, soil borne fungi colonize roots of healthy plants although it’s usually unclear whether these associations constitute random encounters or provide actual fitness benefits to the hosts. Fungal pathogens for instance are a serious threat to global food security, sustainable methods are vital to help control these pathogens in the face of a rapidly growing human population. Here, we show how a newly isolated Purpureocillium species YZ1 endophytically colonizes wheat roots and systematically spreads into shoots without causing any visible disease symptoms. We show that YZ1 can also grow endophytically in Maize, Millet and Sorghum and promote their growth in greenhouse conditions. We also show that YZ1 can significantly promote wheat growth and induce strong disease resistance against Fusarium crown rot caused by Fusaium graminearum and Powdery mildew caused Blumeria graminis f. sp. Tritici when inoculated in roots.
Together, YZ1 was shown to promote wheat growth and induce strong disease resistance against major wheat diseases. This work provides evidence of how YZ1 can be developed into a novel growth promoting and biological control agent against Fusarium crown rot. Our work also raises inciting questions on how beneficial root endophytes can systematically spread to the shoots with beneficial outcomes.