Dark Septate Endophytes and Mycorrhizal

Abstract

Microorganisms are involved in metal biogeochemistry through a variety of processes that promote the bioavailability and uptake of metals and minerals by plants. Among the microorganisms that have the most intimate relationships with plants are mycorrhizal fungi and other fungal endophytes, like dark septate endophytes. These microorganisms populate the rhizosphere and plant roots. Many endophytic fungi can survive in high concentrations of toxic metals, and can adapt to metal stress, resulting in tolerant genotypes. Furthermore, fungal endophytes have been shown to ameliorate metal toxicity for their plant hosts, by restricting the uptake of toxic metals and by improving the supply of essential elements. As effective metal phytoremediation strategies depend on the ability of the plant to tolerate and accumulate metals from the environment, the wide prevalence of endophytic fungi and their potential to modulate metal speciation, toxicity and mobilitymake them a key to any remediation efforts. Further studies of the diversity, biochemistry and interactions of fungal endophytes with plants will help to develop powerful phytoremediation applications in the future.