A Single Latent Plant Growth-Promoting Endophyte BH46 Enhances Thunb. Yield and Quality.

Plant growth-promoting endophytes (PGPE) can effectively regulate plant growth and metabolism. The regulation is modulated by metabolic signals, and the resulting metabolites can have considerable effects on the plant yield and quality. Here, tissue culture Thunb., was inoculated with sp. (BH46) to determine the effect of BH46 on growth and metabolism, and elucidate associated regulatory mechanisms. The results revealed that BH46 metabolized indole-3-acetic acid and induced 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase to decrease ethylene metabolism. Host peroxidase synthesis genes were significantly downregulated, whereas eight genes associated with auxins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, and antioxidant enzymes were significantly upregulated. Eight genes associated with flavonoid biosynthesis were significantly upregulated, with the gene regulating the production of rutin and quercitrin and the gene directly regulating the production of chlorogenic acid. Therefore, BH46 influences metabolic signals in to modulate its growth and metabolism, in turn, enhancing yield and quality of .