Transcriptomic analysis reveals potential roles of polyamine and proline metabolism in waterlogged peach roots inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae and Serendipita indica.

This article investigates how two root-associated endophytic fungi, Funneliformis mosseae (an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus) and Serendipita indica, affect peach (Prunus persica) growth, root anatomy, and gene expression under waterlogging stress. Both fungi formed symbiotic relationships with peach roots, enhancing root diameter, stele diameter, and late metaxylem development, which likely improve root aeration during waterlogging. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that these fungi differentially regulated genes involved in secondary cell wall biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, and polyamine synthesis pathways; specifically, F. mosseae promoted polyamine (putrescine and cadaverine) accumulation, while S. indica primarily facilitated proline accumulation. These distinct molecular mechanisms suggest that the two fungi employ different strategies to enhance peach tolerance to waterlogging, providing insights for developing waterlogging-resistant fruit tree cultivation through endophytic fungal symbiosis.