Endophytic Beauveria Bassiana Isolates Induce Salinity Tolerance in Jute Plant (Corchorus Capsularis) by up-regulated Volatile Chemical Gene GDSL/KAT3

Fourteen isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana could be introduced as an endophyte into jute plant (Corchorus capsularis) through seed inoculation. Only four endophytic isolates induced the activation of salt stress-tolerant gene pathways in the jute plants that were treated. RNA Sequencing identified 1017 differentially expressed genes between the ‘endophyte colonized plant’ and the ‘untreated plant’. A total of 1117 genes exhibited upregulation, while 279 genes showed downregulation in the treated plant. The expression of salinity stress resistant genes (SLT1, GDSL, KAT3) were significantly up regulated. Furthermore, the analysis revealed the presence of genes encoding transcription factors MYB, bHLH, NAC, bZIP, WRKY, and zinc finger among the 1017 differentially expressed genes. Beauveria bassiana, an entomopathogenic fungus was introduced as an endophyte into jute plant (C. capsularis) through seed inoculation to investigate whether it could confer salinity tolerance. Four endophytic isolates provided salinity tolerance by up-regulating salinity tolerant genes (SLT1, GDSL, KAT3). This is the first report of endophytic B. bassiana providing salinity tolerance in jute.