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Review
. 2021 Sep 1;7(9):719.
doi: 10.3390/jof7090719.

A Critical Review on Communication Mechanism within Plant-Endophytic Fungi Interactions to Cope with Biotic and Abiotic Stresses

Hongyun Lu  1 , Tianyu Wei  1 , Hanghang Lou  1 , Xiaoli Shu  2 , Qihe Chen  1
Affiliations
Review

A Critical Review on Communication Mechanism within Plant-Endophytic Fungi Interactions to Cope with Biotic and Abiotic Stresses

Hongyun Lu et al. J Fungi (Basel). .

Abstract

Endophytic fungi infect plant tissues by evading the immune response, potentially stimulating stress-tolerant plant growth. The plant selectively allows microbial colonization to carve endophyte structures through phenotypic genes and metabolic signals. Correspondingly, fungi develop various adaptations through symbiotic signal transduction to thrive in mycorrhiza. Over the past decade, the regulatory mechanism of plant-endophyte interaction has been uncovered. Currently, great progress has been made on plant endosphere, especially in endophytic fungi. Here, we systematically summarize the current understanding of endophytic fungi colonization, molecular recognition signal pathways, and immune evasion mechanisms to clarify the transboundary communication that allows endophytic fungi colonization and homeostatic phytobiome. In this work, we focus on immune signaling and recognition mechanisms, summarizing current research progress in plant-endophyte communication that converge to improve our understanding of endophytic fungi.

Keywords: common symbiosis signaling pathway; endophytic fungi; plant-microbe interactions; to-cell communication.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Plant immune recognition of microorganisms and colonization of endophytes in plant cells. Once invaded by microorganisms, the plant can recognize their individual receptors, such as fungal cell wall chitin, and finally make an immune response. On the MAMPs/DAMPs perception of inducing the formation of receptor complexes, PRR activate intracellular signal transduction, which involves Ca2+ signaling, CDPK, in a wide range of transcriptional reprogramming intermediate and defense-related TF. In addition, microbial apoplastic eATP can activate the Ca2+ signal. The transcriptional expression of plant nuclei can be affected by the colonization of microbe in plant tissues, which may be beneficial for plant survival and endophyte colonization. Abbreviations: microbial/damage-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs/DAMPs), pattern recognition receptors (PRR), Ca2+-dependent protein kinase (CDPK), lipo-chitooligosaccharide (LCO), lipopolysaccharides (LPS).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Symbiotic signaling pathways of endophytes within plants. Beneficial endophytes can evade PRR recognition by evolving divergent MAMPs and modifying chitin and polysaccharide components of cell walls, thus suppressing plant immunity to endophyte. Moreover, endophytes can interfere with the company host immune signaling components by secreting effectors, such as apoplastic protein effector, eATP. In addition, endophytes can strengthen the immune response of plants to pathogens and make themselves dominant in plant tissues. Abbreviations: lipo-chitooligosaccharide (LCO), short-chain chitin (SCC), chitooligosaccharide (CO), exopolysaccharides (EPS), nodulation factors (Nod factors), mycorrhizal factors (Myc factors).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Immunity and symbiotic regulation of plants to microorganisms. Pathogens secrete phytotoxins, hydrolases, peptides, and other effectors. Plants activate the immune defense signaling response, such as ETI and PTI, and secrete phytohormones, antimicrobial compounds, or target sRNAs via gene regulation. Certain types of bacteria and fungi termed endophytes are allowed to enter plant cells by secreting biofilm or by using hyphae to attach to plant tissues and secrete CWDEs to degrade plant cell walls. Moreover, it can regulate gene transcription through evolution to escape plant immune signals and produce symbiotic signals as well as collectively resist pathogen attacks. Accordingly, plants secrete chemo-attractants to attract beneficial endosymbiotic microbes, evolve their own genotype, and transfer cross-kingdom lipid and sugar to endophytes, providing a good parasitic environment for endophytes. Hence, a plant’s genotype can influence the microbiome composition and shape their microbiome to enhance defense and mitigate the trade-off between growth and defense against pathogens. Abbreviations: cell wall degradative enzymes (CWDEs), methylsalicylic acid (MeSA), methyljasmonic acid (MeJA), ectomycorrhizae (ECM), microbe- or pathogen-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs or PAMPs), damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), effector-triggered immunity (ETI).
Figure 4
Figure 4
The plant–endophyte relationship between biotic and abiotic stress environments. Plants are subjected to a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses throughout their life, resulting in ROS accumulation, increased plant susceptibility, decreased photosynthesis, and decreased root differentiation, thus inhibiting growth and reproduction. In turn, the colonization of endophytes in plant tissues is conducive to the plant tolerance to a variety of stresses, which can promote plant growth and the bioavailability of nutrients, secrete antioxidants to reduce ROS damage, promote ACC deaminase to reduce ethylene decline, and produce siderophore to maintain iron homeostasis. Abbreviations: 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), reactive oxygen species (ROS).
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