MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Leucocalocybe mongolica inoculation enhances rice growth by reallocating resources from flavonoid defense to development via MYB/bHLH/WRKY networks

Summary

A fungal strain called Leucocalocybe mongolica (LY9) can help rice plants grow bigger and healthier by improving how they use nutrients and sunlight. Interestingly, when plants grow better with this fungus, they produce fewer defensive compounds called flavonoids, but they still maintain some protective molecules. This research shows that the fungus helps plants decide to invest more energy in growth rather than defense, making it a promising natural fertilizer for farming.

Background

Leucocalocybe mongolica is a fairy ring fungus known for promoting plant growth in natural grassland ecosystems. The mechanisms by which this fungus enhances crop growth while modulating secondary metabolite production remain unclear. This study investigates how LY9 strain, isolated from L. mongolica, affects rice growth and flavonoid metabolism.

Objective

To determine whether Leucocalocybe mongolica strain LY9 enhances rice growth by modulating transcriptional factor genes and reallocating resources from flavonoid defense to growth promotion. The study examined dose-dependent effects using varying concentrations of LY9-transformed soil on rice phenotypic traits, transcriptional regulation, and flavonoid metabolism.

Results

LY9 treatment significantly increased tiller numbers (20.4 at 50% vs 9.2 control), shoot length (989mm), root length (518mm), and chlorophyll content in a dose-dependent manner. Total flavonoid content decreased 66% at highest LY9 concentration. Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of Os04g0605100-WRKY68 and Os05g0553400-R2R3MYB84, while stress-responsive chalcones and isoflavones increased while flavones were suppressed.

Conclusion

LY9 enhances rice productivity by reallocating resources from flavonoid-based defense to growth through modulation of MYB/bHLH/WRKY transcriptional networks. Selective induction of stress-responsive chalcones and isoflavones suggests maintained stress resilience despite reduced total flavonoids. LY9 demonstrates potential as a sustainable biofertilizer for optimizing crop production while maintaining adaptive stress responses.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Plant Science,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40970163, PMC12442037
Scroll to Top