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PloS One 2020Endophytic fungi play an important role in plant growth. The composition and structure of endophytes vary in different plant tissues, which are specific habitats for...
Endophytic fungi play an important role in plant growth. The composition and structure of endophytes vary in different plant tissues, which are specific habitats for endophyte colonization. To analyze the diversity and structural composition of endophytic fungi from toothed clubmoss (Huperzia serrata) that was artificially cultivated for 3 years, we investigated endophytic fungi from the roots, stems and leaves using comparative sequence analysis of the ITS2 region of the fungal rRNA genes sequenced with high-throughput sequencing technology. Seven fungal phyla were identified, and fungal diversity and structure varied across different tissues, with the most distinctive community features found in the roots. A total of 555 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected, and 198 were common to all samples, and 43, 16, 16 OTUs were unique to the root, stem, leaf samples, respectively. Taxonomic classification showed that Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were dominant phyla, and Cladosporium, Oidiodendron, Phyllosticta, Sebacina and Ilyonectria were dominant genera. The relative abundance heat map at the genus level suggested that H. serrata had characteristic endophytic fungal microbiomes. Line discriminant analysis effect size analysis and principal coordinate analysis demonstrated that fungal communities were tissue-type and tissue-site specific. Overall, our study provides new insights into the complex composition of endophytic fungi in H. serrata.
Topics: Ascomycota; Basidiomycota; Fungi; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Huperzia; Phylogeny; Plant Leaves; Plant Roots; Plant Stems; Principal Component Analysis; RNA, Ribosomal; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 33211760
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242258 -
Microbes and Environments Jun 2016The root diameters as well as colonization and diversity of the root-associating fungi of Vaccinium oldhamii Miq. were investigated in order to obtain information on...
The root diameters as well as colonization and diversity of the root-associating fungi of Vaccinium oldhamii Miq. were investigated in order to obtain information on their mycorrhizal properties. The distal regions of roots had typical hair roots with diameters of less than 100 μm. Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (ErMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE) were frequently observed in the roots. Ascomycetes, particularly helotialean fungi, appeared to be dominant among the endophytic fungi of V. oldhamii roots. Furthermore, Rhizoscyphus ericae (Read) Zhuang & Korf and Oidiodendron maius Barron known as ErMF were detected more frequently than other fungal species.
Topics: Biodiversity; Endophytes; Japan; Mycorrhizae; Plant Roots; Vaccinium
PubMed: 27297892
DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.ME16011 -
Data in Brief Feb 2024Mining activities in the Zambian Copperbelt Province have led to the release of heavy metal-containing waste, causing contamination in nearby areas. Despite this...
Mining activities in the Zambian Copperbelt Province have led to the release of heavy metal-containing waste, causing contamination in nearby areas. Despite this environmental challenge, limited knowledge exists regarding the mycobiota in copper mine sites. This study investigates fungal community structure in copper(Cu) and cobalt (Co) contaminated soils around decommisioned dams in Kitwe. Metagenomic analysis of the ITSF1 gene amplicons was used for the purpose. The composition of soil fungal communities was characterized, and the findings revealed significant insights. At the phylum level, dominated the fungal profiles in the tailings (64.59%), followed by (21.30%), (4.53%), and (0.0275%). Several fungal genera, including , P, and , were more abundant in contaminated tailings soils, suggesting their potential in leaching, absorbing, and transforming heavy metals. In contrast, the reference soil at Mwekera National Forest exhibited different dominance patterns with four fungal phyla identified, with and dominating most samples. , known for forming arbuscular mycorrhizae with plants, were found in contaminated soils, while , which can serve ecological roles in various ecosystems, were also present. Notable fungal species such as , and demonstrated resilience to Cu and Co, the primary contaminants in the Copperbelt.
PubMed: 38186741
DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2023.109951 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2018Arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal symbioses are among the most important drivers of terrestrial ecosystem dynamics. Historically, the two types of symbioses...
Arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal symbioses are among the most important drivers of terrestrial ecosystem dynamics. Historically, the two types of symbioses have been investigated separately because arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal plant species are considered to host discrete sets of fungal symbionts (i.e., arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi, respectively). Nonetheless, recent studies based on high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies have suggested that diverse non-mycorrhizal fungi (e.g., endophytic fungi) with broad host ranges play roles in relationships between arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal plant species in forest ecosystems. By analyzing an Illumina sequencing dataset of root-associated fungi in a temperate forest in Japan, we statistically examined whether co-occurring arbuscular mycorrhizal () and ectomycorrhizal () plant species could share non-mycorrhizal fungal communities. Among the 919 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) detected, OTUs in various taxonomic lineages were statistically designated as "generalists," which associated commonly with both coniferous species. The list of the generalists included fungi in the genera , and . Meanwhile, our statistical analysis also detected fungi preferentially associated with (e.g., ) or (e.g., ). Overall, this study provides a basis for future studies on how arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal plant species interactively drive community- or ecosystem-scale processes. The physiological functions of the fungi highlighted in our host-preference analysis deserve intensive investigations for understanding their roles in plant endosphere and rhizosphere.
PubMed: 29593682
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00433 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2016Ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) fungi are specifically symbiotic with plants in the family Ericaceae. Little is known thus far about their symbiotic establishment and...
Ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) fungi are specifically symbiotic with plants in the family Ericaceae. Little is known thus far about their symbiotic establishment and subsequent nitrogen (N) uptake at the molecular level. The present study devised a system for establishing a symbiotic relationship between Lindl. and an ERM fungus ( var. maius strain Om19), quantified seedling growth and N uptake, and compared transcriptome profiling between colonized and uncolonized roots using RNA-Seq. The Om19 colonization induced 16,892 genes that were differentially expressed in plant roots, of which 14,364 were upregulated and 2,528 were downregulated. These genes included those homologous to ATP-binding cassette transporters, calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinases, and symbiosis receptor-like kinases. N metabolism was particularly active in Om19-colonized roots, and 51 genes were upregulated, such as nitrate transporters, nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, ammonium transporters, glutamine synthetase, and glutamate synthase. Transcriptome analysis also identified a series of genes involving endocytosis, Fc-gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) signal pathway that have not been reported previously. Their roles in the symbiosis require further investigation. The Om19 colonization significantly increased N uptake and seedling growth. Total N content and dry weight of colonized seedlings were 36.6 and 46.6% greater than control seedlings. This is the first transcriptome analysis of a species from the family Ericaceae colonized by an ERM fungus. The findings from this study will shed light on the mechanisms underlying symbiotic relationships of ericaceous species with ERM fungi and the symbiosis-resultant N uptake and plant growth.
PubMed: 27826312
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01594 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2021Although velvetleaf blueberry () is usually associated with sandy (upland) areas of the North American boreal forest, lowland populations can be also found in bogs,...
Although velvetleaf blueberry () is usually associated with sandy (upland) areas of the North American boreal forest, lowland populations can be also found in bogs, suggesting possible adaptations to different site conditions. In this study, we examined the role of ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) fungi in conferring drought resistance to the upland and lowland velvetleaf blueberry seedlings. The seedlings were inoculated with four ERM fungi (, , , and ) isolated from the roots of ericaceous plants and grown under controlled environmental conditions in sterilized soil. The inoculated and non-inoculated (inoculation control) plants were subsequently subjected to three cycles of drought stress by withdrawing watering. Lowland plants appeared to benefit relatively more from mycorrhizal colonization, compared with the upland plants, in terms of plant growth and drought survival. After three weeks of treatments, the dry weights of non-inoculated well-watered upland plants were higher compared to the non-inoculated lowland plants. However, these differences were offset by the inoculation of plants with ERM fungi, some of which also significantly improved drought resistance characteristics of the upland and lowland plants. There were no major differences in the effects of different ERM fungal species on drought responses of upland and lowland plants. Of the examined ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, inoculation with was the most effective in conferring drought resistance characteristics to both upland and lowland seedlings and helped maintain higher shoot water potentials, net photosynthetic, and transpiration rates in plants subjected to drought stress.
PubMed: 34961258
DOI: 10.3390/plants10122786 -
Biology Oct 2021forms a symbiotic association with coniferous trees, developing mycelial aggregations, called 'shiro', which are characterized by distinct chemical and physical...
forms a symbiotic association with coniferous trees, developing mycelial aggregations, called 'shiro', which are characterized by distinct chemical and physical properties from nearby forest bulk soil. The fungal diversity living in shiro soil play key roles in nutrient cycles for this economically important mushroom, but have not been profiled across large spatial and environmental gradients. Samples of shiro and non-shiro (nearby bulk soil) were taken from five field sites where sporocarps naturally formed. Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and Illumina MiSeq sequencing were combined to identify fungal biomass and community structure. Matsutake dominated in the shiro, which had a significantly reduced saprotrophic fungi biomass compared to non-shiro soil. Fungal diversity was negatively correlated with the relative abundance of in the shiro soil. The fungal community in the shiro was characterized by similar fungal species composition in most samples regardless of forest types. Matsutake coexisted with a specific fungal community due to competition or nutrient interactions. was positively correlated with the abundance of , commonly cohabitant in the shiro. In contrast, and were negatively correlated with , both of which commonly inhabit the non-shiro soil but do not occur in shiro soils. We conclude that generate a dominance effect to shape the fungal community and diversity in shiro soil across distinctive forest types.
PubMed: 34681150
DOI: 10.3390/biology10101051 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024The thermophilic fungus is a saprobe that is commonly isolated from soil. Here, we identified a Gram-positive bacteria-selective antimicrobial secondary metabolite from...
The thermophilic fungus is a saprobe that is commonly isolated from soil. Here, we identified a Gram-positive bacteria-selective antimicrobial secondary metabolite from this fungal species, harzianic acid (HA). Using strain 168 combined with dynamic bacterial morphology imaging, we found that HA targeted the cell membrane. To further study the antimicrobial activity of HA, we isolated an HA-resistant strain, strain M9015, and discovered that the mutant had more translucent colonies than the wild type strain, showed cross resistance to rifampin, and harbored five mutations in the coding region of four distinct genes. Further analysis of these genes indicated that the mutation in might be responsible for the translucency of the colonies, and mutation in for resistance to both HA and rifampin. We conclude that HA is an antimicrobial agent against Gram-positive bacteria that targets the cell membrane.
PubMed: 38348189
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1332774 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2020The success of Ericaceae in stressful habitats enriched in heavy metals has been ascribed to the distinctive abilities of their mycorrhizal fungal partners to withstand...
The success of Ericaceae in stressful habitats enriched in heavy metals has been ascribed to the distinctive abilities of their mycorrhizal fungal partners to withstand heavy metal stress and to enhance metal tolerance in the host plant. Whereas heavy metal tolerance has been extensively investigated in some ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) fungi, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that extend tolerance to the host plant are currently unknown. Here, we show a reduced Cd content in Cd-exposed mycorrhizal roots of colonized by a metal tolerant isolate of the fungus as compared to non-mycorrhizal roots. To better understand this phenotype, we applied Next Generation Sequencing technologies to analyze gene expression in and Zn grown under normal and Cd-stressed conditions, in the free living and in the mycorrhizal status. The results clearly showed that Cd had a stronger impact on plant gene expression than symbiosis, whereas fungal gene expression was mainly regulated by symbiosis. The higher abundance of transcripts coding for stress related proteins in non-mycorrhizal roots may be related to the higher Cd content. Regulated plant metal transporters have been identified that may play a role in reducing Cd content in mycorrhizal roots exposed to this metal.
PubMed: 32210940
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00341 -
Toxins Sep 2015Fungal polyketides are a diverse class of natural products, or secondary metabolites (SMs), with a wide range of bioactivities often associated with toxicity. Here, we...
Fungal polyketides are a diverse class of natural products, or secondary metabolites (SMs), with a wide range of bioactivities often associated with toxicity. Here, we focus on a group of non-reducing polyketide synthases (NR-PKSs) in the fungal phylum Ascomycota that lack a thioesterase domain for product release, group V. Although widespread in ascomycete taxa, this group of NR-PKSs is notably absent in the mycotoxigenic genus Fusarium and, surprisingly, found in genera not known for their secondary metabolite production (e.g., the mycorrhizal genus Oidiodendron, the powdery mildew genus Blumeria, and the causative agent of white-nose syndrome in bats, Pseudogymnoascus destructans). This group of NR-PKSs, in association with the other enzymes encoded by their gene clusters, produces a variety of different chemical classes including naphthacenediones, anthraquinones, benzophenones, grisandienes, and diphenyl ethers. We discuss the modification of and transitions between these chemical classes, the requisite enzymes, and the evolution of the SM gene clusters that encode them. Integrating this information, we predict the likely products of related but uncharacterized SM clusters, and we speculate upon the utility of these classes of SMs as virulence factors or chemical defenses to various plant, animal, and insect pathogens, as well as mutualistic fungi.
Topics: Ascomycota; Biological Products; Evolution, Molecular; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Multigene Family; Phylogeny; Polyketide Synthases; Symbiosis
PubMed: 26378577
DOI: 10.3390/toxins7093572