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Metabolic Profiling of Water-Soluble Compounds from Dark Septate Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Scots Pine Seedlings Using UPLC-Orbitrap-MS

Summary

This research examined the chemical compounds produced by beneficial fungi that live inside pine tree roots. These fungi help trees survive in harsh environments by improving their nutrient uptake and stress resistance. The study identified over 200 different compounds that these fungi produce, many of which may help protect and nourish the host tree. Impacts on everyday life: – Helps understand how trees naturally survive environmental stress – Could lead to development of new natural fertilizers or plant protection products – Provides insights for improving forest health and timber production – May inspire new approaches for sustainable agriculture – Could identify new beneficial compounds for human applications

Background

Endophytes are microorganisms living inside plant hosts that can benefit host plant vitality. Dark septate endophytic fungi (DSE) are often dominant in tree roots and characterized by melanized and septate hyphae. These fungi colonize many plant species in the northern hemisphere, particularly in coniferous boreal forests. Previous studies have shown DSE fungi can induce resistance to abiotic stress, accelerate root turnover, and suppress root pathogens.

Objective

To investigate the metabolic profiles of water-soluble compounds extracted from three endophytic fungal species isolated from the roots of Scots pine seedlings growing on Finnish drained peatland, using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry analysis.

Results

Out of 318 metabolites detected, 220 were successfully identified. The majority were amino acids and peptides. Additionally identified were opine amino acids, amino acid quinones, Amadori compounds, cholines, nucleobases, nucleosides, nucleotides, siderophores, sugars, sugar alcohols and disaccharides. While many metabolites were shared between fungi, each species also produced some unique compounds.

Conclusion

The study identified numerous water-soluble metabolites from Scots pine root endophytic fungi that may contribute to nutrient intake and stress-resistance of the host plant. Many compounds identified have previously reported bioactive properties. This represents the first metabolic profiling of water extracts from these specific Scots pine associated endophytic fungi species, providing valuable reference data for future research.
  • Published in:Molecules,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Analysis,
  • Source: 10.3390/molecules24122330
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