More Like this

1. Environmental and host plant effects on taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of root fungal endophytes

   https://doi.org/10.1093/femsle/fnaf030  

   Farrer, Emily_C; Kulick, Nelle_K; Birnbaum, Christina; Halbrook, Susannah; Bumby, Caitlin_R; Willis, Claire (March 2025, FEMS Microbiology Letters)

   Abstract Nearly all plants are colonized by fungal endophytes, and a growing body of work shows that both environment and host species shape plant-associated fungal communities. However, few studies place their work in a phylogenetic context to understand endophyte community assembly through an evolutionary lens. Here, we investigated environmental and host effects on root endophyte assemblages in coastal Louisiana marshes. We isolated and sequenced culturable fungal endophytes from roots of three to four dominant plant species from each of three sites of varying salinity. We assessed taxonomic diversity and composition as well as phylogenetic diversity (mean phylogenetic distance, MPD) and phylogenetic composition (based on MPD). When we analyzed plant hosts present across the entire gradient, we found that the effect of the environment on phylogenetic diversity (as measured by MPD) was host dependent and suggested phylogenetic clustering in some circumstances. We found that both environment and host plant affected taxonomic composition of fungal endophytes, but only host plant affected phylogenetic composition, suggesting different host plants selected for fungal taxa drawn from distinct phylogenetic clades, whereas environmental assemblages were drawn from similar clades. Our study demonstrates that including phylogenetic, as well as taxonomic, community metrics can provide a deeper understanding of community assembly in endophytes. 

   more » « less
2. Bacterial and fungal root endophytes alter survival, growth, and resistance to grazing in a foundation plant species

   https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-024-05650-8  

   Garces, Kylea Rose; Hanley, Torrance C; Deckert, Ron; Noble, Allison; Richards, Christina; Gehring, Catherine; Hughes, A Randall (December 2024, Oecologia)
3. Arsenic Accumulation in Hydroponically Grown Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem) Amended with Root-Colonizing Endophytes

   https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.0c00302  

   DeVore, Cherie L.; El Hayek, Eliane; Busch, Taylor; Long, Benson; Mann, Michael; Rudgers, Jennifer A.; Ali, Abdul-Mehdi S.; Howard, Tamara; Spilde, Michael N.; Brearley, Adrian; et al (June 2021, ACS Earth and Space Chemistry)

   null (Ed.)
4. Patterns of root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophytes across a mostly-unvegetated, high-elevation landscape

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2018.07.009  

   Bueno de Mesquita, Clifton P.; Sartwell, Samuel A.; Ordemann, Emma V.; Porazinska, Dorota L.; Farrer, Emily C.; King, Andrew J.; Spasojevic, Marko J.; Smith, Jane G.; Suding, Katharine N.; Schmidt, Steven K. (December 2018, Fungal Ecology)
5. Do Foliar Endophytes Matter in Litter Decomposition?

   https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8030446  

   Wolfe, Emily R.; Ballhorn, Daniel J. (March 2020, Microorganisms)

   Litter decomposition rates are affected by a variety of abiotic and biotic factors, including the presence of fungal endophytes in host plant tissues. This review broadly analyzes the findings of 67 studies on the roles of foliar endophytes in litter decomposition, and their effects on decomposition rates. From 29 studies and 1 review, we compiled a comprehensive table of 710 leaf-associated fungal taxa, including the type of tissue these taxa were associated with and isolated from, whether they were reported as endo- or epiphytic, and whether they had reported saprophytic abilities. Aquatic (i.e., in-stream) decomposition studies of endophyte-affected litter were significantly under-represented in the search results (p < 0.0001). Indicator species analyses revealed that different groups of fungal endophytes were significantly associated with cool or tropical climates, as well as specific plant host genera (p < 0.05). Finally, we argue that host plant and endophyte interactions can significantly influence litter decomposition rates and should be considered when interpreting results from both terrestrial and in-stream litter decomposition experiments. 

   more » « less