A new study, published in Archives of Microbiology, highlights the powerful plant growth–promoting potential of the endophytic fungus Colletotrichum endophyticum, isolated from the medicinal plant Epimedium koreanum Nakai. Using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model, researchers identified three promising strains—Y6, Y8, and Y11—with the Y8 strain demonstrating the most significant growth-enhancing effects.
The team first isolated and screened endophytic fungi based on nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, siderophore production, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production capabilities. Strain Y8 showed the highest IAA yield (17.76 μg/mL) and produced strong siderophores.
When co-cultured with Arabidopsis, strain Y8 significantly increased taproot length, lateral root number, and overall biomass compared to the control. Enzyme activity analyses also showed marked increases in peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase—key indicators of enhanced stress tolerance and metabolic activity.
Metabolomic profiling revealed a coordinated shift in several key pathways. Y8 upregulated pyridoxal, 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, and glucobrassicin—metabolites linked to vitamin B6 metabolism, tryptophan pathways, and plant defense responses. Meanwhile, flavonoids such as kaempferol and quercitrin were downregulated, reallocating energy toward growth processes like photosynthesis, cell division, and hormone synthesis.
The researchers propose that Y8 enhances plant development by modulating both hormone biosynthesis and energy metabolism while simultaneously strengthening stress resilience. This dual function underscores the fungus’s promise as a potential biofertilizer for sustainable agriculture.
The study offers a deeper understanding of how endophytic fungi shape plant physiological processes and provides a foundation for future applications in medicinal plant cultivation and crop improvement.
Reference
Rui, J., Mingxuan, Z., Yucui, L. et al. The endogenous fungus Colletotrichum endophyticum from Korean epimedium Nakai promoted the growth of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Arch Microbiol 207, 333 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-025-04533-7
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