Effects of fungicides on endophytic fungi and photosynthesis in seedlings of a tropical tree, Guarea guidonia (Meliaceae)

Endophytes are microorganisms that live within healthy plant tissues, and include fungi and bacteria. They can be mutualists, comensals or even latent pathogens. Presence of these endosymbionts may affect host physiology, for example by consuming products of photosynthesis (endophytes are heterotrophs) or producing toxic metabolites. In this work two fungicides were used to eliminate fungal endophytes from seedlings of Guarea guidonia. Light-saturated photosynthesis (Amax) was measured in endophyte-free plants and compared with control plants. Each fungicide killed different fungal endosymbionts.  Phomopsis was more susceptible to benomyl while Colletotrichum was more susceptible to propiconazole. Although suggestive, values of Amax were not significantly different for each treatment compared with control plants. No prediction can be made at this point about the final outcome of a given plantendophytic fungi interaction.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gamboa Gaitán, Miguel A., Wen, Shiyun, Fetcher, Ned, Bayman, Paul
Format: Digital revista
Language:spa
Published: Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Sede Bogotá - Facultad de Ciencias - Departamento de Biología 2005
Online Access:https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/actabiol/article/view/27130
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!