Interactions between fungal endophytes and pathogens isolated from the invasive plant kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata)

Abstract

In this study, we examined the in vitro interactions between fungal endophytes and pathogens isolated from the invasive plant kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) and test if endophytes might facilitate pathogen growth. This represents a required initial step towards the development of candidate fungal inocula that can aid in the suppression of kudzu. While most tested endophyte-pathogen assays suggest antagonism and/or competitive exclusion, we identified several pathogen/endophyte combinations that suggest pathogen facilitation. Additional work is needed to test if these may have in planta effects on phytopathogenicity. The present study accentuates on the potential of fungal endophytes as an effective ecological approach to manage invasive plants via pathogens facilitation.

Keywords:

• Pathogen facilitation
• fungi
• invasive plants
• interactions
• integrated pest management

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Jonathan James for assistance with culturing and the Department of Biological Sciences (UofM) and the FedEx Institute of Technology (UofM) Agricultural and Food Technologies Research Cluster for financial support.

Declaration of interests

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.