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Fairy Ring Fungus Rewires Rice Lipid Metabolism: A Symbiotic Strategy for Enhanced Growth and Photosynthetic
Mingzheng Duan1, Mei Wang1, Fuhuan Wei1
1Key Laboratory of Edible Fungi Resources Innovation Utilization and Cultivation/Yunnan Key Laboratory of Smart Villages and Agri-Cultural-Tourism Integration, Zhaotong University, Zhaotong, China.
None:
The fairy ring fungus Leucocalocybe mongolica (strain LY9) has shown significant potential as a sustainable biofertilizer, yet its mechanisms for enhancing crop growth remain poorly understood. This study suggests that LY9 significantly improves rice growth and photosynthetic efficiency by reprogramming lipid metabolism in a tissue-specific manner. Using soil transformation experiments with varying LY9 concentrations (10%-50%), we observed dose-dependent increases in tillering (up to 122%), root length (26%), and chlorophyll content (214%). Lipidomic profiling and transcriptomic analyses revealed that LY9 upregulates lysophosphatidylethanolamines (LysoPEs) in rice roots (promoting membrane flexibility and nutrient uptake), while enhancing chloroplast lipids like monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and stress-protective oxylipins in leaves, thereby supporting photosynthetic performance and resilience. LY9 treatment reduced post-harvest soil nutrient concentrations, suggesting enhanced plant nutrient uptake and utilization by the rice plants. These findings provide novel insights into how fungal symbionts optimize plant lipid networks to boost growth, offering a sustainable strategy to reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers in rice cultivation.
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