QPCR-based quantification reveals high plant host-specificity of endophytic colonization levels in leaves.

ABSTRACT:

Premise

Despite the high functional importance of endophytes, we still have limited understanding of the biotic and abiotic factors that influence colonization of plant hosts along major ecological gradients and lack quantitative estimates of their colonization extent. In this study, we hypothesized that the developmental stage of the ecosystem will affect the levels of bacterial and fungal endophytic assemblages in the foliar endosphere.

Methods

We quantified levels of bacterial and fungal endophytes in leaves of four plant hosts at four stages of vegetation succession using an optimized qPCR protocol with bacteria-specific 16S and fungi-targeting primers.

Results

(1) The ecosystem developmental stage did not have a significant effect on the colonization levels of ba

SUBMITTER: de Paula CCP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11744438 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature