Schizophyllum commune Enhances Dendrobine Accumulation in Dendrobium nobile in Association with Induced Fungal Cellulolytic Activity and Host Jasmonate Biosynthesis
- 1State Key Laboratory of Discovery and Utilization of Functional Components in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 561113, China
- 2Guizhou Engineering Research Center of Industrial Key-Technology for Dendrobium Nobile, Guizhou Engineering Research Center for Orchid Medicinal Plant Breeding and Efficient Application, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
- 3School of Pharmacy, Guiyang Kangyang University, Guiyang 550081, China
Abstract
Objective: To explore the mechanism by which Schizophyllum commune elevates dendrobine accumulation in Dendrobium nobile, and verify whether cellulase derived from this fungus triggers jasmonate biosynthesis to mediate the regulation of alkaloid production. Methods: Endophytic fungi were isolated from D. nobile stems via tissue block isolation and identified by ITS sequencing. A plant–fungus symbiotic system was established with axenic plantlets. Dual RNA seq transcriptomic analysis, RT qPCR, pharmacological interventions with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and the JA biosynthesis inhibitor salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) and Extracellular cellulase activities assays was performed. Results: In this study, none of 29 endophytic fungal strains from D. nobile stems produced dendrobine independently. Symbiotic screening subsequently identified Schizophyllum commune CY01 1H (SC) as the best strain that significantly increased dendrobine accumulation in D. nobile plantlets. Dual RNA seq revealed that SC colonization substantially activated jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis, accompanied by marked upregulation of the key biosynthetic gene DnLOX2. In contrast, downstream JA-signaling components exhibited an atypical transcriptional pattern, DnJAR was downregulated, whereas DnJAZ was upregulated. These results suggest that SC colonization induces a reconfiguration of JA signaling that may contribute to the maintenance of symbiotic homeostasis. In the fungus, cellulase-encoding genes were significantly induced. Experimental verification that MeJA promoted dendrobine accumulation, whereas SHAM suppressed it, and SC symbiosis partially mitigated this suppression. Stem section assays showed dynamic increases in extracellular cellulase activities (endoglucanase, cellobiohydrolase, β glucosidase), peaking at day 19, with endoglucanase being the highest. Conclusions: These findings support a cross-regulatory model in which S. commune CY01-1H induces cellulolytic enzyme production during colonization, coinciding with host JA-biosynthetic activation and JA-signaling reprogramming, ultimately enhancing dendrobine accumulation. This study provides integrated evidence from fungal and host transcriptomes and enzymatic assays, expanding our understanding of endophyte-mediated regulation of medicinal plant metabolism. S. commune CY01 1H represents a promising biostimulant for sustainable improvement of dendrobine yield in cultivated D. nobile.
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BibTeX
@article{zhao2026schizophyllum,
title = {{Schizophyllum commune Enhances Dendrobine Accumulation in Dendrobium nobile in Association with Induced Fungal Cellulolytic Activity and Host Jasmonate Biosynthesis}},
author = {Yongxia Zhao and Yonglin Ouyang and Nian Xiong and Xiaolong Ji and Qi Jia and Lin Qin and Jian Xie and Yuqi He},
journal = {Biomolecules},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/biom16101533},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/16/10/1533},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Schizophyllum commune Enhances Dendrobine Accumulation in Dendrobium nobile in Association with Induced Fungal Cellulolytic Activity and Host Jasmonate Biosynthesis
AU - Yongxia Zhao
AU - Yonglin Ouyang
AU - Nian Xiong
AU - Xiaolong Ji
AU - Qi Jia
AU - Lin Qin
AU - Jian Xie
AU - Yuqi He
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Biomolecules
DO - 10.3390/biom16101533
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/16/10/1533
AB - Objective: To explore the mechanism by which Schizophyllum commune elevates dendrobine accumulation in Dendrobium nobile, and verify whether cellulase derived from this fungus triggers jasmonate biosynthesis to mediate the regulation of alkaloid production. Methods: Endophytic fungi were isolated from D. nobile stems via tissue block isolation and identified by ITS sequencing. A plant–fungus symbiotic system was established with axenic plantlets. Dual RNA seq transcriptomic analysis, RT qPCR, pharmacological interventions with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and the JA biosynthesis inhibitor salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) and Extracellular cellulase activities assays was performed. Results: In this study, none of 29 endophytic fungal strains from D. nobile stems produced dendrobine independently. Symbiotic screening subsequently identified Schizophyllum commune CY01 1H (SC) as the best strain that significantly increased dendrobine accumulation in D. nobile plantlets. Dual RNA seq revealed that SC colonization substantially activated jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis, accompanied by marked upregulation of the key biosynthetic gene DnLOX2. In contrast, downstream JA-signaling components exhibited an atypical transcriptional pattern, DnJAR was downregulated, whereas DnJAZ was upregulated. These results suggest that SC colonization induces a reconfiguration of JA signaling that may contribute to the maintenance of symbiotic homeostasis. In the fungus, cellulase-encoding genes were significantly induced. Experimental verification that MeJA promoted dendrobine accumulation, whereas SHAM suppressed it, and SC symbiosis partially mitigated this suppression. Stem section assays showed dynamic increases in extracellular cellulase activities (endoglucanase, cellobiohydrolase, β glucosidase), peaking at day 19, with endoglucanase being the highest. Conclusions: These findings support a cross-regulatory model in which S. commune CY01-1H induces cellulolytic enzyme production during colonization, coinciding with host JA-biosynthetic activation and JA-signaling reprogramming, ultimately enhancing dendrobine accumulation. This study provides integrated evidence from fungal and host transcriptomes and enzymatic assays, expanding our understanding of endophyte-mediated regulation of medicinal plant metabolism. S. commune CY01 1H represents a promising biostimulant for sustainable improvement of dendrobine yield in cultivated D. nobile.
SN - 2218-273X
ER -