A meta-analysis of the dark septate endophytic fungal role in the plant host adaptability to drought stress

Drought stress is a major concern for global agriculture, reducing plant growth and productivity. Recent research has demonstrated the potential of dark septate endophytic fungi (DSE) in increasing plant resilience to drought. This meta-analysis brings together findings from several research papers to better understand the role of DSE fungi in plant host adaptation to drought stress. We conducted a comprehensive assessment and analysis of data from 19 peer-reviewed studies published between 2018 and 2023, with an emphasis on major morphological, physiological, and plant nutrient responses of plants colonized by DSE fungi during drought. Our findings show that DSE fungi considerably improve plant growth (plant height, root and shoot biomass, total biomass, and root length), improve root colonization, increase total chlorophyll, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), decrease proline and malondialdehyde (MDA), and enhance N availability. The meta-analysis also found that the significance of these beneficial effects varied by species and environmental context, highlighting the importance of host-fungus compatibility and local adaptability. This study suggests that the use of DSE fungi as a biological agent has potential to mitigate and adapt drought stress in plants. Future studies should focus on understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms and investigating practical applications of DSE fungi in sustainable agriculture, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.