Foliar fungal endophyte communities are structured by environment but not host ecotype in Panicum virgatum (switchgrass).

ABSTRACT: Experimental tests of community assembly mechanisms for host-associated microbiomes in nature are lacking. Asymptomatic foliar fungal endophytes are a major component of the plant microbiome and are increasingly recognized for their impacts on plant performance, including pathogen defense, hormonal manipulation, and drought tolerance. However, it remains unclear whether fungal endophytes preferentially colonize certain host ecotypes or genotypes, reflecting some degree of biotic adaptation in the symbioses, or whether colonization is simply a function of spore type and abundance within the local environment. Whether host ecotype, local environment, or some combination of both controls the pattern of microbiome formation across hosts represents a new dimension to the age-old debate of natur

SUBMITTER: Whitaker BK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6279483 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature