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Updated: Nov 14, 2025

Establishing Fungal Entomopathogens as Endophytes: Towards Endophytic Biological Control
Published on: April 11, 2013
Fungal endophytes can eliminate the plant growth-defence trade-off
Daniel A Bastías1, Ernesto Gianoli2,3, Pedro E Gundel4,5
1Resilient Agriculture Innovation Centre of Excellence, AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Abstract:
A trade-off between growth and defence functions is commonly observed in plants. We propose that the association of plants with Epichloë fungal endophytes may eliminate this trade-off. This would be a consequence of the double role of these endophytes in host plants: the stimulation of plant growth hormones (e.g. gibberellins) and the fungal production of antiherbivore alkaloids. We put forward a model that integrates this dual effect of endophytes on plant growth and defence and test its predictions by means of meta-analysis of published literature. Our results support the notion that the enhanced plant resistance promoted by endophytes does not compromise plant growth. The limits and ecological benefits of this endophyte-mediated lack of plant growth-defence trade-off are discussed.
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