Hydroponic Hordeum brevisubulatum (wild barley) was used as material in the greenhouse to study the effects of endophyte infection on plant growth, Cd absorption and transport, subcellular distribution, and Cd chemical forms under CdCl₂ stress. Endophytic fungi respond positively to chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency under Cd stress. The order of Cd absorption in different parts of the plant was: roots > stems > leaves. Endophyte infection increased the plant’s absorption and transport of Cd while causing a significant difference in the stem, which was associated with the distribution density of endophyte hyphae. The proportion of organelle Cd in endophyte-infected wild barley was significantly higher, which facilitated more Cd transport to aboveground. Cd stress showed a slight effect on the chemical forms of Cd in leaves. The proportion of phosphate, oxalate, and residual Cd increased in the stem. Cd existed in the form of inorganic salt, organic acid, pectin, and protein in roots. Endophyte infection reduced the Cd content of the more toxic chemical forms to protect the normal progress of plant physiological functions. Therefore, the isolation of cell walls and vacuoles is a key mechanism for plant Cd tolerance and detoxification. As endophyte infections have more ability to absorb Cd in plants, H. brevisubulatum–Epichloë bromicola symbionts can improve heavy metal contaminated soil and water.

In this study, wild barley (Hordeum brevisubulatum) infected (E+) and uninfected (E-) by Epichloë bromicola were used for hydroponic experiments during the seedling stage. Various attributes, such as the effect of fungal endophyte on the growth and development of wild barley, the absorption of cadmium (Cd) and mineral elements (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn), subcellular distribution, and chemical forms were investigated under CdCl₂ stress. The results showed that the fungal endophy significantly reduced the Ca content and percentage of plant roots under Cd stress. The Fe and Mn content of roots, the mineral element content of soluble fractions, and the stems in the pectin acid or protein-chelated state increased significantly in response to fungal endophy. Epichloë endophyte helped Cd²⁺ to enter into plants; and reduced the positive correlation of Ca-Fe and Ca-Mn in roots. In addition, it also decreased the correlation of soluble components Cd-Cu, Cd-Ca, Cd-Mg in roots, and the negative correlation between pectin acid or protein-chelated Cd in stems and mineral elements, to increase the absorbance of host for mineral elements. In conclusion, fungal endophy regulated the concentration and distribution of mineral elements, while storing more Cd²⁺ to resist the damage caused by Cd stress. The study could provide a ground for revealing the Cd tolerance mechanism of endophytic fungal symbionts.