The Endophytic Mycobiome of European Ash and Sycamore Maple Leaves – Geographic Patterns, Host Specificity and Influence of Ash Dieback

作者：Markus Schlegel, Valentin Queloz, Thomas N. Sieber · 发表于：Frontiers in Microbiology · 年份：2018 · DOI：10.3389/fmicb.2018.02345 · 被引用次数：68 · 研究领域：Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases、Plant and fungal interactions、Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions

The European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is threatened by the introduced ascomycete Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, the causal agent of ash dieback. Endophytic fungi are known to modulate their host's resistance against pathogens. To understand possible consequences of ash dieback on the endophytic mycobiome, F. excelsior leaves were collected in naturally regenerated forests and the fungal communities analyzed by classic culture and Illumina amplicon sequencing using a newly developed and validated fungal-specific primer. Collections were done in the area infested by ash dieback north of the Alps, and in the disease free area on the south side. Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) was additionally collected, as well as the flowering ash (F. ornus), which occurs naturally in the south and shows tolerance to ash dieback. Both cultivation and amplicon sequencing revealed characteristic endophytic fungal communities dominated by several strictly host specific Venturia species. On A. pseudoplatanus, a hitherto undescribed Venturia species was identified. Due to its dominance on F. excelsior, V. fraxini is unlikely to go extinct in case of reduced host densities. A majority of species was not strictly host specific and is therefore likely less affected by ash dieback in the future. Still, shifts in community structure and loss of genetic diversity cannot be excluded. The potentially endangered endophyte Hymenoscyphus albidus was rarely found. In addition to host specificity, species with pr...