Endophytic mycobiota of Festuca rubra subsp. pruinosa and its functionality

Abstract

[EN]The main purpose of this thesis was to describe the endophytic mycobiome from the host plant Festuca rubra subsp. pruinosa and to understand its role in the adaptation to salinity conditions as well as to explore its potential attributes for applications as plant growth promoting agent and to promote tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses in non-host plant such as tomato. With this broad aim, the specific objectives were as follows (Figure 1.5): I. To identify the culturable endophytic mycobiota of roots and the prevalence of Epichloë festucae in above tissues of Festuca rubra subsp. pruinosa from natural populations (Chapter 2). II. To explore the effect of the foliar endophyte Epichloë festucae and selected root endophytes on the performance of Festuca rubra subsp. pruinosa plants subjected to salinity (Chapter 3). III. To monitor gene expression and metabolomic regulation induced by salt and Epichloë festucae in Festuca rubra subsp. pruinosa (Chapter 4). IV. To evaluate the effect and compatibility of Diaporthe sp. isolated from Festuca rubra subsp. pruinosa roots on tomato plants and its role in the adaptation to drought stress (Chapter 5). V. To test the effectiveness of Diaporthe sp. against Fusarium wilt on tomato (Chapter 6).