Corynascella humicola, a root endophytic fungus from crabgrass, confers growth promotion and induced systemic resistance in gramineous plants

• Corynascella humicola , isolated as an endophytic fungus from the roots of crabgrass. • C. humicola had a plant growth promoting effect against gramineous plants, and this effect was pronounced when no fertilizer was applied, expecting the use of chemical fertilizer would be reduced. • C. humicola also conferred induced systemic resistance against Pyricularia oryzae , and this effect was observed even when fertilizer was applied, suggesting that a mechanism different from PGP is involved. Root-habiting fungi have great potential for plant growth promotion (PGP) and induced systemic resistance (ISR) against pathogens. In the present study, we isolated a potentially beneficial fungus, Corynascella humicola CHDR1-1, from crabgrass roots. Root colonization increased over time when barley, rice, and wheat seeds were planted in the soil containing CHDR1-1 mycelial aggregates. The PGP effect has been observed in barley and wheat, particularly under fertilizer-free conditions. CHDR1-1 conferred ISR against Pyricularia oryzae in all tested gramineous plants, i.e., barley, rice, and wheat. Most pathogenesis-related genes were expressed at higher levels in the CHDR1-1-treated group than in the untreated group after pathogen inoculation. Utilizing filamentous fungi with these characteristics may reduce the reliance of agricultural systems on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.