Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Endophytic fungus Beauveria bassiana can enhance drought tolerance in red oak seedlings

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Trees Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Key message

Endophytic fungus, usually treated as an entomopathogenic agent, can provide drought stress tolerance to red oak seedlings. Its effect is realized through root growth stimulation.

Abstract

Endophytic fungi are known to be active in the plant environmental stress alleviation. In this work, we proved the ability of endophytic Beauveria bassiana, which is almost exclusively treated as an entomopathogenic fungus, in mitigating drought stress in dehydrated red oak (Quercus rubra L.) seedlings. Despite small differences between experiments, in general, leaf relative water content and stomatal conductance were less reduced (ca. 50% and 15%, respectively), free proline did not accumulate over the control level, carbon isotope 13C discrimination/water use efficiency was not affected and root growth was stimulated at a similar plant transpiration area in the endophyte-colonised individuals. Regression analysis revealed that the root growth stimulation provided by the fungus under drought had the most important effect on their water status.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adiredjo AL, Navaud O, Lamaze T, Grieu P (2014) Leaf carbon isotope discrimination as an accurate indicator of water use efficiency in sunflower genotypes subjected to five stable soil water contents. J Agron Crop Sci 200(6):416–424

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barta M (2010) Pathogenicity assessment of entomopathogenic fungi infecting Leptoglossus occidentalis (Heteroptera: Coreidae). Czech Mycol 62(1):67–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bates LS, Waldren RP, Teare JD (1973) Rapid determination of proline for water-stress studies. Plant Soil 39:205–207

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brownbridge M, Reay SD, Nelson TL, Glare TR (2012) Persistence of Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) as an endophyte following inoculation of radiata pine seed and seedlings. Biol Control 61:194–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll G (1988) Fungal endophytes in stems and leaves—from latent pathogen to mutualistic symbiont. Ecology 69:2–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cedro A, Nowak G (2013) Tree ring width and health status of the red oak (Quercus rubra L.) under urban conditions in Szczecin (NW Poland). Plant Div Evol 130:183–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheplick G (2004) Recovery form drought stress in Lolium perenne (Poaceae): are fungal endophytes detrimental? Am J Bot 91(12):1960–1968

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dara SK, Dara SSR, Dara SS (2016) First report of entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana, Isaria fumosorosea, and Metarhizium brunneum promoting the growth and health of cabbage plants growing under water stress. Strawb Veg eJournal

  • Demuzere M, Orru K, Heidrich O, Olazabal E, Geneletti D, Orru H, Bhave AG, Mittal N, Feliu E, Faehnle M (2014) Mitigating and adapting to climate change: multi-functional and multi-scale assessment of green urban infrastructure. J Environ Manag 146:107–115

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elbersen HW, West CP (1996) Growth and water relations of field-grown tall fescue as influenced by drought and endophyte. Grass Forage Sci 51(4):333–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elmi AA, West CP (1995) Endophyte infection effects on stomatal conductance, osmotic adjustment and drought recovery of tall fescue. New Phytol 131:61–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar GD, Ehleringer JR, Hubick KT (1989) Carbon isotope discrimination and photosynthesis. Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol 40:503–537

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gillner S, Braüning A, Roloff A (2014) Dendrochronological analysis of urban trees: climatic response and impact of drought on frequently used tree species. Trees 28:1079–1093

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton CE, Bauerle TL (2012) A new currency for mutualism? Fungal endophytes alter antioxidant activity in hosts responding to drought. Fungal Div 54:39–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hesse U, Schöberlein W, Wittenmayer L, Förster K, Warnstorff K, Diepenbrock W, Merbach W (2003) Effects of Neotyphodium endophytes on growth, reproduction and drought-stress tolerance of three Lolium perenne L. genotypes. Grass Forage Sci 58(4):407–415

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hesse U, Schöberlein W, Wittenmayer L, Förster K, Warnstorff K, Diepenbrock W, Merbach W (2005) Influence of water supply and endophyte infection (Neotyphodium spp.) on vegetative and reproductive growth of two Lolium perenne L. genotypes. Eur J Agron 22(1):45–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hubbard M, Germida JJ, Vujanovic V (2013) Fungal endophytes enhance wheat heat and drought tolerance in terms of grain yield and second-germination seed viability. J App Microbiol 116:109–122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2014) Climate change 2014: Synthesis report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Core Writing Team, R.K. Pachauri and L.A. Meyer (eds.). IPCC, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan AL, Hamayun M, Kang S-M, Kim Y-H, Jung H-Y, Lee J-H, Lee I-J (2012) Endophytic fungal association via gibberellins and indole acetic acid can improve plant growth under abiotic stress: an example of Paecilomyces formosus LHL10. BMC Microbiol 12:3

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kivlin SN, Emery SM, Rudgers JA (2013) Fungal symbionts alter plant responses to global change. Am J Bot 100(7):1445–1457

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kubásek J, Urban O, Šantrůček J (2013) C4 plants use fluctuating light less efficiently than do C3 plants: a study of growth, photosynthesis and carbon isotope discrimination. Physiol Plant 149:528–539

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liang Y, Gao Y, Chen S, Ren A (2001) Effects of endophyte infection on photosynthesis, transpiration and water use efficiency of Lolium perenne L. under drought stress. Acta Phytoecol Sin 25(5):537–543

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopez DC, Sword GA (2015) The endophytic fungal entomopathogens Beauveria bassiana and Purpureocillium lilacinum enhance the growth of cultivated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and negatively affect survival of the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa zea). Biol Control 89:53–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malinowski DP, Belesky DP (2000) Adaptations of endophyte-infected cool-season grasses to environmental stresses: mechanisms of drought and mineral stress tolerance. Crop Sci 40(4):923–940

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy MP, Best MJ, Betts RA (2010) Climate change in cities due to global warming and urban effects. Geophys Res Lett 37:L09705

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McKinnon AC, Saari S, Moran-Diez ME, Meyling NV, Raad M, Glare TR (2017) Beauveria bassiana as an endophyte: a critical review on associated methodology and biocontrol potential. Biocontrol 62:1–17

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Medo J, Michalko J, Medová J, Cagáň Ľ (2016) Phylogenetic structure and habitat associations of Beauveria species isolated from soils in Slovakia. J Invertebr Pathol 140:46–50

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Michalko J (2009) Genetic diversity of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana in Slovakia as defined by the ISSR method. Slovak Agricultural University, Diploma work

    Google Scholar 

  • Morse LJ, Day TA, Faeth SH (2002) Effect of Neotyphodium endophyte infection on growth and leaf gas exchange of Arizona fescue under contrasting water availability regimes. Exp Environ Bot 48(3):257–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagabhyru P, Dinkins RD, Wood CL, Bacon CW, Schardl CL (2013) Tall fescue endophyte effects on tolerance to water-deficit stress. BMC Plant Biol 13:127

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ravel C, Courty C, Coudret A, Charmet G (1997) Beneficial effects of Neotyphodium lolii on the growth and the water status in perennial ryegrass cultivated under nitrogen deficiency or drought stress. Agronomie 17:173–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez R, Redman R (2008) More than 400 million years of evolution and some plants still can´t make it on their own: plant stress tolerance via fungal symbiosis. J Exp Bot 59(5):1109–1114

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez R, Write JF, Arnold AE, Redman R (2009) Fungal endophytes: diversity and functional roles. J Exp Bot 59(5):1109–1114

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez-Rodríguez AR, Raya-Díaz S, Zamarreño AM, García-Mina JM, del Campillo MC, Quesada-Moraga E (2018) An endophytic Beauveria bassiana strain increases spike production in bread and durum wheat plants and effectively controls cotton leafworm (Spodoptera littoralis) larvae. Biol Control 116:90–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slavík B (1965) Metody studia vodního provozu rostlin. [Methods in the Plant Relations Study]. Nakladatelství ČSAV, Praha

    Google Scholar 

  • Swarthout D, Harper E, Judd S, Gonthier D, Shyne R, Stow T, Bultman T (2009) Measures of leaf-level water-use efficiency in drought stressed endophyte infected and non-infected tall fescue grasses. Exp Environ Bot 66(1):88–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tokár F (1998) Biomass of selected exotic woody plants in forest stands of Southern Slovakia. Veda, Bratislava

    Google Scholar 

  • Trenberth KE, Dai A, van der Schrier G, Jones PD, Barichivich J, Briffa KR, Sheffield J (2014) Global warming and changes in drought. Nat Clim Change 4:17–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vogt J, Gillner S, Hofmann M, Tharang A, Dettmann S, Gerstenberg T, Schmidt C, Gebauer H, van der Riet K, Berger U, Roloff A (2017) Citree: a database supporting tree selection for urban areas in temperate climate. Lansc Urban Plan 157:14–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waqas M, Khan AL, Kamran M, Hamayun M, Kang S-M, Kim Y-H, Lee I-J (2012) Endophytic fungi produce gibberellins and indoleacetic acid and promotes host-plant growth during stress. Molecules 17:10754–10773

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Write JF, Torres MS (2010) Is plant endophyte-mediated defensive mutualism the result of oxidative stress production? Physiol Plant 138:440–446

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmermann G (2007) Review on safety of the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Beauveria brongniartii. Biocont Sci Tech 17(5/6):553–596

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by two projects of the Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, nos. Vega 2/0025/15 and Vega 2/0058/18.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mlyňany Arboretum, Institute of Forest Ecology SAS, Vieska nad Žitavou 178, 95152, Slepčany, Slovakia

    Peter Ferus & Jana Konôpková

  2. Institute of Forest Ecology SAS, Branch of the Woody Plant Biology, Akademická 2, 94901, Nitra, Slovakia

    Marek Barta

Authors
  1. Peter Ferus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marek Barta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jana Konôpková
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Ferus.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Submitting this manuscript to the Trees—Structure and Function journal was approved by all authors and concerned institutions. None of the authors declare any conflict of interest.

Additional information

Communicated by Courty.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ferus, P., Barta, M. & Konôpková, J. Endophytic fungus Beauveria bassiana can enhance drought tolerance in red oak seedlings. Trees 33, 1179–1186 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-019-01854-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-019-01854-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation