Diminished Pathogen and Enhanced Endophyte Colonization upon CoInoculation of Endophytic and Pathogenic Strains.

Root colonization by (Fo) endophytes reduces wilt disease symptoms caused by pathogenic Fo strains. The endophytic strain Fo47, isolated from wilt suppressive soils, reduces wilt in various crop species such as tomato, flax, and asparagus. How endophyte-mediated resistance (EMR) against wilt is achieved is unclear.

Endophyte-Mediated Resistance in Tomato to Is Independent of ET, JA, and SA.

Root endophytes can confer resistance against plant pathogens by direct antagonism or via the host by triggering induced resistance. The latter response typically relies on jasmonic acid (JA)/ethylene (ET)-depended signaling pathways, but can also be triggered via salicylic acid (SA)-dependent signaling pathways. Here, we set out to determine if endophyte-mediated resistance (EMR), conferred by the Fusarium endophyte Fo47, against Fusarium wilt disease in tomato is mediated via SA, ET or JA.