Discovery of new symbiotic association between an endophytic fungus, Colletotrichum tofieldiae ,and the plant Arabidopsis thaliana may lead to more sustainable agriculture.

It is a known fact that plants thrive when they establish symbiotic associations with microorganisms. The symbiosis improves the capability to absorb water and nutrients. Mycorrhiza fungi are the most common symbiotic microorganisms related to plants. Colletotrichum tofieldiae is not a mycorrhiza. It is a fungus called endophytic (fungi that grow inside a plant without causing disease symptoms), and it carries out a function similar to the one performed by mycorrhizas. Plants inoculated with this fungus produce more fruits and seeds than the control plants. Colletotrichum tofieldae colonizes the whole plant starting with roots. The fungus transmits phosphorus to leaves and stems.

The research group of Soledad Sacristán, from Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (CBGP (UPM-INIA)) of Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), cooperated with Max Planck Institute from Germany in this path breaking discovery. The new discovery will pave the way to improve crop growing, reducing the use of inorganic fertilizers .It will be a more ecofriendly way of agriculture. Details appear in the latest issue of journal CELL.