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Poster

Session: Session 1 Presenting Authors at Posters (Odds)

P-431 - Uncovering The Role Of Serendipita Williamsii Volatiles In Establishing Its Own Plant Beneficial Endophytic Colonization

Monday, July 14, 2025
13:30 - 15:15  
Location: Confex Hall 3
Symbiosis and Mutualism (mycorrhiza and N-fixing Rhizobia)

There has been a growing interest in plant responses upon exposure to the volatilome of different fungi. However, knowledge of the composition of these fungal volatilomes and how they affect the plant’s physiology is scarce.
The genus of Serendipita is an endophytic fungus who can increase the plant’s resilience upon abiotic and biotic stress through its volatilome. A combination of better nutrient uptake through beneficial root colonization and protection against stresses with its volatilome makes Serendipita of high potential for advancing sustainable crop production.
To understand how Serendipita establishes symbiosis with plants, we developed an innovative approach to assess the content and bioactivity of the Serendipita volatilome. First, we identified the most abundant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the headspace of in vitro grown Serendipita williamsii using TD-GC-MS. In parallel, we investigated the role of Serendipita’s volatilome in the root colonization in tomato using an experimental setup that eliminates CO₂ fertilization effects. Strikingly, a higher susceptibility of tomato plants exposed to VOCs was observed to Botrytis cinerea compared to unexposed plants. A cutting-edge technology, hyperspectral imaging was applied for phenotyping studies. We will present insights into key volatiles, innovative experimental setups, and proposed modes of action.