Title : A model for studying plant-endophyte interactions
Abstract:
Interactions between endophytic fungi and plants are crucial in plant biology and ecology. These relationships can significantly influence stress tolerance and resistance to pathogens. Identifying suitable model systems that enable detailed experimental analyses is essential for advancing our understanding in this field. We propose ideal plant-endophyte partnerships and highlight their importance in improving our knowledge of these interactions. Our research focuses on identifying and utilizing model systems based on Brachypodium distachyon and Microdochium bolleyi to study host-endophyte relationships. The proposed model allows us to conduct experimental analyses that contribute to a deeper understanding of interaction mechanisms and their potential applications in plant protection. An Internal Grant from Palacký University, project number IGA_PrF_2025_001 and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, project number QL24010008, supported the research.