Sulfur transfer from the endophytic fungus <i>Serendipita indica</i> improves maize growth and requires the sulfate transporter SiSulT

Abstract A deficiency of the essential macronutrient sulfur leads to stunted plant growth and yield loss; however, an association with a symbiotic fungus can greatly improve nutrient uptake by host plant. Here, we identified functionally characterized high-affinity sulfate transporter from endophytic Serendipita indica. SiSulT fulfills all criteria expected functional responding limitation: expression was induced when S. indica grown under low-sulfate conditions, heterologous complemented yeast mutant lacking transport. We generated knockdown strain RNA interference investigate consequences partial loss this for (maize, Zea mays) during colonization. Wild-type (WT) indica, but not (kd-SiSulT), largely compensated availability supported growth. Colonization WT also allowed maize roots allocate precious resources away assimilation low-sulfur as evidenced reduction in most genes. Our study illustrates utility endophyte nutrition research offers potential avenues agronomically sound amelioration environments.