Microbiome Analysis Reveals Biocontrol of <i>Aspergillus</i> and Mycotoxin Mitigation in Maize by the Growth-Promoting Fungal Endophyte <i>Colletotrichum tofieldiae</i> Ct0861.

ABSTRACT: Maize (Zea mays L.) is a globally critical crop that faces numerous challenges, including contamination by mycotoxigenic fungi such as Aspergillus spp. The use of fungal endophytes as bioinoculants offers a sustainable strategy to improve plant resilience against biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we evaluate the potential of Colletotrichum tofieldiae strain Ct0861 as a bioinoculant and its impact on maize-associated bacterial and fungal microbiomes. Field trials demonstrated that Ct0861 enhanced biomass and yield compared to controls, regardless of the application method (seed or foliar). Microbiome profiling showed that Ct0861 induced subtle, compartment-specific changes in microbial diversity and composition, while preserving the stability of core microbiome assembl

SUBMITTER: Diaz-Gonzalez S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12608721 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature