<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The endophytic fungus, <italic>Piriformospora indica</italic>, developed a subepidermal infection within <italic>Medicago truncatula</italic> at 1 <italic>g</italic> and at simulated microgravity over a period of 15 days, resulting in intracellular colonization of mature host tissue. At 1 <italic>g</italic>, <italic>P. indica</italic> inoculation affected the growth and morphology of <italic>M. truncatula</italic>, predominantly roots. Inoculated <italic>M. truncatula</italic> had a significantly greater number of roots (102%), total root length (88%), and dry root weight (25%) than non-inoculated plants. Effects on shoot morphology of <italic>P. indica</italic> inoculated <italic>M. truncatula</italic> included longer (31%) and heavier (30%) shoots, along with increased leaf surface area (98%). <italic>P. indica</italic> retained the ability to promote the growth of <italic>M. truncatula</italic> under simulated microgravity conditions upon two dimensional clinostatic rotation, significantly increasing root number by 51% and root length by 48%. These physiological and morphological changes may mitigate biotic and abiotic stresses that would otherwise limit crop productivity.</p></abstract>

The endophytic fungus, Piriformospora indica, developed a subepidermal infection within Medicago truncatula at 1 g and at simulated microgravity over a period of 15 days, resulting in intracellular colonization of mature host tissue. At 1 g, P. indica inoculation affected the growth and morphology of M. truncatula, predominantly roots. Inoculated M. truncatula had a significantly greater number of roots (102%), total root length (88%), and dry root weight (25%) than non-inoculated plants. Effects on shoot morphology of P. indica inoculated M. truncatula included longer (31%) and heavier (30%) shoots, along with increased leaf surface area (98%). P. indica retained the ability to promote the growth of M. truncatula under simulated microgravity conditions upon two dimensional clinostatic rotation, significantly increasing root number by 51% and root length by 48%. These physiological and morphological changes may mitigate biotic and abiotic stresses that would otherwise limit crop productivity.

Mutualism Within a Simulated Microgravity Environment - <italic>Piriformospora indica</italic> Promotes the Growth of <italic>Medicago truncatula</italic>

Shannon Applied Biotechnology Centre, Department of Applied Science

Gravitational and Space Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mutualism Within a Simulated Microgravity Environment -  Promotes the Growth of 

The endophytic fungus, Piriformospora indica, developed a subepidermal infection within Medicago truncatula at 1 g and at simulated microgravity over a period...

Mutualism Within a Simulated Microgravity Environment - Piriformospora indica Promotes the Growth of Medicago truncatula

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Mar 02, 2022

Page range: 21 - 33

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2014-0015

Keywords
Fungus, Legume, Endophyte, Infection, Microgravity, Growth Promotion

© 2014 Martin W. Hayes et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mutualism Within a Simulated Microgravity Environment - Piriformospora indica Promotes the Growth of Medicago truncatula

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Mar 02, 2022

Page range: 21 - 33

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2014-0015

KeywordsFungus, Legume, Endophyte, Infection, Microgravity, Growth Promotion

© 2014 Martin W. Hayes et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Fungus, Legume, Endophyte, Infection, Microgravity, Growth Promotion