Opportunistic pathogenicity observed for the endophytic fungus Diaporthe ueckeraeon Gossypium hirsutumplants

Cotton crops are routinely threatened by emerging fungal diseases. Fungal endophytes also can be considered latent phytopathogens. In this study we tested the hypothesis that an endophytic strain of Diaporthe, isolated from chlorotic leaves of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), could trigger physiological effects of biotic stress in this oilseed plant. We also assessed the histopathological aspects of the mycelial interaction of the endophyte with the adaxial surface of G. hirsutumleaves. Thus, we studied the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments, pattern of gas exchange, and photochemistry of cotton plants subjected to inoculation with Diaporthe ueckeraevia root and leaf at three different phenological stages (vegetative, reproductive, and maturation). Additionally, we histopathologically analyzed infected leaves using electron microscopy to study the process of leaf colonization by this endophytic fungus. We evidenced that D. ueckeraeinoculation negatively affected the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments in plants at vegetative and reproductive stages. Moreover, inoculation also negatively affected the photosynthetic rate and carboxylation efficiency of these plants. We also found that the presence of the endophyte increased transpiration and decreased water use efficiency in the plants. Furthermore, foliar inoculation negatively affected stomatal conductance, whereas inoculation via leaf or root reduced the photochemical performance of cotton. We also observed that D. ueckeraecolonizes the leaf tissues of G. hirsutumvia glandular trichomes and forces penetration into the epidermis using appressoria, and the plant responds by closing the stomata. The observed physiological alterations are indicative of biotic stress, confirming the hypothesis that D. ueckeraemay be an opportunistic phytopathogen for cotton plants.