Abstract
Acceleration of the growth of plants and fungi can contribute to increased production of agricultural crops and plants providing raw materials as sources of bioenergy. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as oxygen ions, free radicals, and peroxides, can cause significant damage to cell structures. Therefore, reduction of intracellular ROS is thought to be an effective strategy to facilitate growth. Erythritol is a four-carbon sugar alcohol that exists naturally in bacteria, mushrooms, fruits, and wine. Many interesting characteristics of erythritol have been reported, leading to its wide use as a food and drug additive. Moreover, erythritol has free radical scavenging activity. In this study, the effects of erythritol on plant and fungal growth was investigated. Supplementation of erythritol to white radish, garlic, and arabidopsis enhanced the growth of their seedlings and roots, and shortened germination time. With mushrooms it markedly enhanced the development of fruiting bodies. These results suggest that erythritol is useful for acceleration of growth of plants and fungi, with wide potential applications.
