Diversity and Functional Roles of Root-Associated Endophytic Fungi in Two Dominant Pioneer Trees Reclaimed from a Metal Mine Slag Heap in Southwest China

作者：Bo Bi, Yuqing Xiao, Xiaonan Xu, Qianqian Chen, Haiyan Li, Zhiwei Zhao, Tao Li · 发表于：Microorganisms · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.3390/microorganisms12102067 · 被引用次数：11 · 研究领域：Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases、Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions、Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity

The utilization of fast-growing, economically valuable woody plants with strong stress resistance, such as poplar and willow, to revegetate severely metal-contaminated mine tailings not only offers a productive and profitable use of abandoned polluted soil resources but also facilitates the phytoremediation of these polluted soils. This study examines the diversity and functional roles of endophytic fungi naturally colonizing the roots of an artificially established Populus yunnanensis forest and the naturally reclaimed pioneer species Coriaria sinica on an abandoned tailing dam in southwest China. Culture-independent analyses revealed that the root systems of both plant species were abundantly colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and endophytic fungi, forming rich and diverse endophytic fungal communities predominantly represented by the genera Ilyonectria, Tetracladium, Auricularia, and unclassified members of Helotiales. However, the composition of root endophytic fungal communities differed significantly between the two plant species. Using a culture-dependent approach, a total of 192 culturable endophytic fungal strains were isolated from the roots. The dominant genera included Cadophora, Cladosporium, Cyphellophora, and Paraphoma, most of which were previously identified as dark septate endophytes (DSE). Six representative DSE strains were selected for further study, and significant cadmium tolerance and various plant growth-promoting traits were observed, includin...