Leaf mycobiome and the success of <i>Hymenoscyphus fraxineus</i> in completing its life cycle depend on the canopy position of common ash.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is threatened by an invasive Asian-origin ash dieback pathogen, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. The pathogen establishes leaf infection with the aid of wind-borne ascospores, followed by mycelial spread from the leaf into the shoot before autumn senescence. Whether the mycobiome in living leaves and the fructification success of this fungus in overwintered leaves differ between saplings and different crown layers of large trees is poorly understood.

Methods

We pursued these questions by ITS1-based amplicon sequencing and recording of the number of pathogen ascocarps formed on leaf debris.

Results

Fungal diversity (Shannon and Simpson indices) and richness (Chao1) in leaves differed significantly between saplings and

SUBMITTER: Long F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12722789 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature