Fungal succession in decomposing ash leaves colonized by the ash dieback pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus or its harmless relative Hymenoscyphus albidus.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The ascomycete Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, originating from Asia, is currently threatening common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) in Europe, massive ascospore production from the saprotrophic phase being a key determinant of its invasiveness.

Methods

To consider whether fungal diversity and succession in decomposing leaf litter are affected by this invader, we used ITS-1 metabarcoding to profile changes in fungal community composition during overwintering. The subjected ash leaf petioles, collected from a diseased forest and a healthy ash stand hosting the harmless ash endophyte Hymenoscyphus albidus, were incubated in the forest floor of the diseased stand between October 2017 and June 2018 and harvested at 2-3-month intervals.

Results

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SUBMITTER: Kosawang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10140306 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature