Recent research suggests oxidative balance plays a crucial role in modulating plant-fungus interactions (Rodriguez and Redman 2005 and 2008; Nanda et al. 2010; White and Torres 2010; Redman et al. 2011). Part of the complex plant immune system is driven by biphasic reactive oxygen species bursts mediating first, recognition of invading fungi, and then the establishment of defense responses in the plant

(Mittler 2002; Overmyer et al. 2003; Box 1 and Fig. 1). Virulent pathogens appear able to suppress the second burst of reactive oxygen species (Torres et al. 2006; Torres 2010; Eaton et al. 2011). Similarly, a suppressed second burst is suggested to inactivate plant defense responses against symbiotic fungi (Gechev et al. 2006; Tanaka et al. 2006; Lohar et al. 2007; Torres 2010; Eaton et al. 2011; Tipifarnib ic50 Fig. 1). Fig. 1 Reactive oxygen species produced from various types of stress as well as basic metabolic processes elicit antioxidants

to scavenge reactive oxygen species and thus avoid cell death Box 1. Glossary Symbiosis: Symbioses are close ecological selleck chemical relationships between two or more, inter-specific individuals. Symbiosis does not indicate the outcome of the inter-specific interaction, only the degree of interaction ranging from obligate to facultative (Smith 1979). As such, a symbiotic interaction can be positive (mutualism), negative (pathogenesis or parasitism), or neutral Alisertib for one or both of the partners (commensalism). Endophytism: An endophyte is an asymptomatic life stage of a symbiotic microorganism (Wilson 1995). The stage may last part, or the entire life cycle of the organism and is typified as asymptomatic at least throughout some portion of colonization. Endophytes may be maternally transmitted (vertical) or horizontally transmitted passively or via vectors (Wilson 1995). Dark septate endophytes (DSE): DSE are a miscellaneous group of ascomycetous anamorphic fungi that colonize root tissues intra- and inter-cellularly (Jumpponen 2001). Evidence suggests a role for DSE as a mycorrhizal substitute

especially in habitats exposed to recurrent stress (Read and Haselwandter 1981; Cázares et al. 2005; Postma et al. 2007) leading Orotic acid to the suggestion DSE functionally replace mycorrhizae in hosts living at latitudes beyond the reach of mycorrhizal symbiosis (Jumpponen 2001; Newsham et al. 2009). Thus, amycorrhizal hosts may rely on root endophytes to navigate the vicissitudes of extreme environments or even stable but stressful ones (Johnson et al. 1997; Jumpponen 1999; Jumpponen and Trappe 1998; Jumpponen and Jones 2010; Mandyam and Jumpponen 2012). Reactive oxygen species: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are multifunctional metabolites resulting from aerobic metabolism found in all living organisms.