Fungal Communities in the Native New Zealand Medicinal Plant Pseudowintera colorata (Horopito) Are Determined by Plant Organ Type and Host Maturity with Key Members Promoting Plant Growth

Insight into saffron associated microbiota from different origins and explore the endophytes for enhancement of bioactive compounds

Crocus sativus L. is a perennial crop for its valuable active compounds. Plant-associated microbes impact on the quality and efficacy of medicinal herbs by promoting bioactive components accumulation. However, how microbes influence the accumulation of bioactive components in saffron have not been well studied. Here, the microbiome in C. sativus derived from 3 core production areas were deciphered by 16S rDNA sequencing and the relationship between endophytes and bioactive ingredients were further investigated. The main results are as follows: (1) Both Comamonadaceae and Burkholderiaceae were positively correlated with the content of bioactive components in the stigmas. (2) The synthesis of crocin was positively correlated with Xanthomonadaceae, negatively correlated with Lachnospiraceae and Prevotellaceae. Therefore, further investigation is required to determine whether Xanthomonadaceae plays an unknown function in the synthesis of crocin. These findings provide guidelines for disentangling the function of endophytes in the production of bioactive ingredients and thus for microbe-mediated breeding.

How Deep Can the Endophytic Mycobiome Go? A Case Study on Six Woody Species from the Brazilian Cerrado

Elucidating the complex relationship between plants and endophytic fungi is very important in order to understand the maintenance of biodiversity, equity, stability, and ecosystem functioning. However, knowledge about the diversity of endophytic fungi from species of the native Brazilian Cerrado biome is poorly documented and remains largely unknown. These gaps led us to characterize the diversity of Cerrado endophytic foliar fungi associated with six woody species (Caryocar brasiliense, Dalbergia miscolobium, Leptolobium dasycarpum, Qualea parviflora, Ouratea hexasperma, and Styrax ferrugineus). Additionally, we investigated the influence of host plant identities on the structure of fungal communities. Culture-dependent methods coupled with DNA metabarcoding were employed. Irrespective of the approach, the phylum Ascomycota and the classes Dothideomycetes and Sordariomycetes were dominant. Using the cultivation-dependent method, 114 isolates were recovered from all the host species and classified into more than 20 genera and 50 species. Over 50 of the isolates belonged to the genus Diaporthe, and were distributed into more than 20 species. Metabarcoding revealed the phyla Chytridiomycota, Glomeromycota, Monoblepharomycota, Mortierellomycota, Olpidiomycota, Rozellomycota, and Zoopagomycota. These groups are reported for the first time as components of the endophytic mycobiome of Cerrado plant species. In total, 400 genera were found in all host species. A unique leaf endophytic mycobiome was identified in each host species, which differed not only by the distribution of fungal species, but also by the abundance of shared species. These findings highlight the importance of the Brazilian Cerrado as a reservoir of microbial species, and emphasize how endophytic fungal communities are diversified and adapted.

Additions to the Knowledge of the Genus Pezicula (Dermateaceae, Helotiales, Ascomycota) in China

Simple Summary

Species of the genus Pezicula are endophytes, phytopathogens, or saprobes, and some of them have biocontrol potential, promoting plant growth and resistance to environmental stress. The species diversity of Pezicula in China was reviewed. Two new species (P. ellipsoids and P. fusispora) and two new Chinese records (P. acericola and P. carpinea) were discovered using morphological and molecular approaches. Descriptions and illustrations of macroscopic and microscopic features were provided for the new and newly found taxa. Pezicula aurantiaca was excluded from the fungal catalogue of China. Together with the previously reported taxa (P. cinnamomea, P. ericae, P. heterochroma, P. magnispora, P. melanigena, P. neosporulosa, P. ocellata, P. rhizophila, P. cf. rubi, and P. subcarnea), 14 Pezicula species are currently known from China. The results provide updated information and improve our understanding of the genus.

Abstract

We describe two new species of Pezicula (Dermateaceae, Ascomycota), P. ellipsoides and P. fusispora, which are discovered in China. Pezicula ellipsoides sp. nov. is distinct in producing 2–3 stipitate apothecia on a basal stroma with a light yellow hymenium, broadly ellipsoid 0–1(–2)-septate ascospores, and divergent DNA sequence data. Pezicula fusispora sp. nov. is characterized by sessile apothecia, 0.3–0.8 mm in diam, a yellowish hymenium, J+ asci 135–170 × 15–21 μm, multiseptate ascospores, 33–48 × 7–10.3 μm, and growing on rotten bamboo. In addition, Pezicula acericola and P. carpinea are reported for the first time from China, and 11 Pezicula species previously reported from China are reviewed and briefly noted, of which one was a misidentified species. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from ITS nrDNA sequences confirm the placement of P. ellipsoides and P. cinnamomea in the genus Pezicula.