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Halotolerant Endophytic Fungi: Diversity, Host Plants, and Mechanisms in Plant Salt–Alkali Stress Alleviation

Summary

Over 1.3 billion hectares of farmland worldwide suffer from excess salt and alkalinity, drastically reducing crop yields. Special fungi that live inside plant tissues can help crops survive in these harsh conditions without harming them. These fungi work by helping plants manage salt accumulation, boost their natural defenses, and produce protective compounds. While laboratory tests show promising results with yield increases up to 40%, practical field application remains challenging due to environmental variables.

Background

Saline–alkali stress affects over 1.381 billion hectares globally, reducing crop yields by 30% or more. Halotolerant endophytic fungi (HEFs) are specialized microorganisms that colonize plant tissues without pathogenic effects and enhance salt tolerance through multiple physiological mechanisms. These fungi represent a critical biological resource for mitigating saline–alkali stress in agriculture.

Objective

This comprehensive review analyzes 150 scientific publications to examine HEFs’ diversity, host plant specificity, isolation and identification techniques, and mechanisms of salt–alkali stress alleviation. The study systematically evaluates laboratory validations and field applications to understand the practical potential and current limitations of HEF-mediated plant stress tolerance.

Results

HEFs colonize over 30 host plant species across diverse environments without pathogenic effects. Key mechanisms include osmolyte production, ion homeostasis regulation, antioxidant enzyme enhancement, and phytohormone modulation. Laboratory studies show yield increases of 15-40% with fungal inoculation, though field colonization efficiency decreases to 30-50% due to environmental factors.

Conclusion

HEFs demonstrate significant potential for alleviating saline–alkali stress through sophisticated physiological and molecular mechanisms. However, challenges remain in field application including host specificity, environmental factor interactions, and variable effectiveness across plant species. Future research should focus on ecological adaptability, microbiological interactions, and biotechnological optimization.
  • Published in:Plants (Basel),
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 41012059
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