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A Rapid and Efficient Method for Assessing Pathogenicity of Ustilago maydis on Maize and Teosinte Lines
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A Rapid and Efficient Method for Assessing Pathogenicity of Ustilago maydis on Maize and Teosinte Lines

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Interactions between Fusarium verticillioides, Ustilago maydis, and Zea mays: an endophyte, a pathogen, and their

Alma E Rodriguez Estrada1, Wilfried Jonkers, H Corby Kistler

  • 1Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.

Fungal Genetics and Biology : FG & B
|May 17, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Endophytic fungi like Fusarium verticillioides can protect maize plants from pathogens such as Ustilago maydis. This interaction shows complex fungal roles, acting as both mutualist and parasite depending on the environment.

Area of Science:

  • Plant-microbe interactions
  • Fungal ecology
  • Plant pathology

Background:

  • Microbial symbionts are abundant in plants, but their roles (parasitic vs. mutualistic) are not always clear.
  • Endophytic fungi, living within plants without causing symptoms, present a unique case for studying symbiont interactions.
  • Understanding these interactions is crucial for plant health and agricultural applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interactions between an endophytic fungus (Fusarium verticillioides) and a plant pathogen (Ustilago maydis) in maize (Zea mays).
  • To evaluate the metabolic mechanisms governing these fungal-fungal interactions within the host plant.
  • To assess the impact of these interactions on endophyte and pathogen growth, and on overall plant growth.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental inoculation of maize with Fusarium verticillioides and Ustilago maydis, individually and in combination.
  • Assessment of fungal growth dynamics within the plant.
  • Evaluation of plant growth parameters under different inoculation scenarios.
  • Analysis of potential metabolic interactions between the fungi.

Main Results:

  • Fusarium verticillioides significantly modulated Ustilago maydis growth, reducing its aggressiveness towards maize.
  • Co-inoculation with the endophyte largely mitigated the negative impact of the pathogen on plant growth.
  • Evidence suggests the endophyte may enhance its own growth by breaking down plant compounds that inhibit the pathogen, indicating a context-dependent nutritional strategy.

Conclusions:

  • Endophytic fungi can act as "defensive mutualists," protecting host plants from pathogens.
  • The role of an endophyte can be multifaceted, potentially acting as both a mutualist and a parasite simultaneously.
  • Fungal symbiont behavior and nutritional modes are plastic and depend heavily on the ecological context, including the presence of other microbes.

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