Distinct Communities of Poplar Endophytes on an Unpolluted and a Risk Element-Polluted Site and Their Plant...

Area of Science:

• Microbial Ecology
• Plant-Microbe Interactions
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Endophytic microbes are known to enhance plant growth and stress tolerance.
• Identifying specific endophytes for improved plant fitness in challenging environments is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize poplar endophytic bacteria and fungi.
• To screen these endophytes for beneficial traits like nutrient solubilization, phytohormone production, and stress resistance.
• To evaluate their potential for promoting plant growth and phytoremediation.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of endophytic bacteria and fungi from poplar roots and leaves.
• In vitro screening for phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, antioxidant activity, ACC-deaminase activity, and heavy metal tolerance/accumulation.
• Bacterial and fungal community analysis based on 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing.

Main Results:

• Distinct bacterial and fungal endophytic communities were found at unpolluted and polluted sites.
• Many isolates exhibited plant growth-promoting traits, including phosphate solubilization and phytohormone production.
• Selected bacterial strains demonstrated high tolerance and accumulation of risk elements, indicating phytoremediation potential.

Conclusions:

• Poplar endophytes possess diverse beneficial traits for host plants.
• Specific endophytes can enhance plant biomass production and resilience in polluted conditions.
• These findings support the use of endophytes in sustainable agriculture and environmental remediation.