Mercury-driven fungal endophytic community and the role of endophytes in rice grain mercury accumulation.

ABSTRACT: Rice, a staple food for over half of the global population, is an important dietary source of methylmercury (MeHg) due to its high accumulation capacity. Endophytes are known to impact host plants heavy metals (HMs) accumulation, conversely, HMs can alter host plants endophytics communities. However, the specifically addressing mercury-rice endophytic fungal system remains limited. In the present study, the fungal endophytic community of rice from Hg-contaminated and uncontaminated sites were investigated by Illumina sequencing, and its role on rice grains MeHg accumulation was evaluated through pot experiments. Results showed that soil Hg concentration significantly restructured rice fungal endophytic communities, and higher Hg concentration decreased the richness and diversity of fungal

SUBMITTER: Zhao L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12741289 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature