Rice nitrogen nutrition is improved by association with a fungus carrying nitrogen-fixing endobacteria ($) (Plant Cell)
Previously, growth-promoting endophytic (living within the plant) microbes were isolated from plants (narrowleaf cattail, Typha angustifolia) growing in a nutrient-poor site in an effort to identify new beneficial microbes. One of these identified is the fungus Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. Now, Paul et al. have further characterized this fungus to identify how it benefits its host. They found that the fungus carries its own internal helper, a nitrogen-fixing bacterium, Pseudomonas stutzeri. Rice grown in the presence of the bacteria-carrying fungus showed significantly better growth and nitrogen content than in its absence. (Summary by Mary Williams) Plant Cell 10.1105/tpc.19.00385