title: Root Endophyte Colletotrichum tofieldiae Confers Plant Fitness Benefits that Are Phosphate Status Dependent.
abstract: A staggering diversity of endophytic fungi associate with healthy plants in nature, but it is usually unclear whether these represent stochastic encounters or provide host fitness benefits. Although most characterized species of the fungal genus Colletotrichum are destructive pathogens, we show here that C. tofieldiae (Ct) is an endemic endophyte in natural Arabidopsis thaliana populations in central Spain. Colonization by Ct initiates in roots but can also spread systemically into shoots. Ct transfers the macronutrient phosphorus to shoots, promotes plant growth, and increases fertility only under phosphorus-deficient conditions, a nutrient status that might have facilitated the transition from pathogenic to beneficial lifestyles. The host's phosphate starvation response (PSR) system controls Ct root colonization and is needed for plant growth promotion (PGP). PGP also requires PEN2-dependent indole glucosinolate metabolism, a component of innate immune responses, indicating a functional link between innate immunity and the PSR system during beneficial interactions with Ct.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Microbe Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany; Department of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 630-0192 Nara, Japan.
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hiruma
authors.affiliation: Botanical Institute, Cologne Biocenter, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gerlach
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (UPM-INIA) and E.T.S.I. Agrónomos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid Campus de Montegancedo, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Soledad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sacristán
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Microbe Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany; Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Ryohei Thomas
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Microbe Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hacquard
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Microbe Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kracher
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Microbe Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (UPM-INIA) and E.T.S.I. Agrónomos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid Campus de Montegancedo, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Botanical Institute, Cologne Biocenter, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bucher
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Microbe Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany; UMR BIOGER, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78850 Thiverval-Grignon, France. Electronic address: richard.oconnell@versailles.inra.fr.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Microbe Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany; Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany. Electronic address: schlef@mpipz.mpg.de.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schulze-Lefert
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020231:Colletotrichum / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D060026:Endophytes; D028061:Phosphate Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D013030:Spain; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D028061:Phosphate Transport Proteins; D010710:Phosphates