Foliar fungal endophyte community structure is independent of phylogenetic relatedness in an Asteraceae common garden.

ABSTRACT: Phylogenetic distance among host species represents a proxy for host traits that act as biotic filters to shape host-associated microbiome community structure. However, teasing apart potential biotic assembly mechanisms, such as host specificity or local species interactions, from abiotic factors, such as environmental specificity or dispersal barriers, in hyperdiverse, horizontally transmitted microbiomes remains a challenge. In this study, we tested whether host phylogenetic relatedness among 18 native Asteraceae plant species and spatial distance between replicated plots in a common garden affects foliar fungal endophyte (FFE) community structure. We found that FFE community structure varied significantly among host species, as well as host tribes, but not among host subfamilies. Howeve

SUBMITTER: Whitaker BK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7771118 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature