Composition and Diversity of the Culturable Endophytic Community of Six Stress-Tolerant Dessert Plants Grown in Stressful Soil in a Hot Dry Desert Region.

Salam S. AlSharari,Fatma H. Galal,AlaaEddeen M. Seufi

doi:10.3390/jof8030241

Salam S. AlSharari, Fatma H. Galal + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8030241

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Abstract

Saudi Arabia is part of a hot dry desert region and is characterized by stressful conditions. The main goal of this research was to identify endophytic fungal (EF) community composition, diversity and abundance in relation to their plant hosts and soil stress. The above-ground parts of six wild plants (Haloxylon salicornicum, Salsola kali, Heliotropium bacciferum, Erica verticillata, Salsola imbricata and Bienertia sinuspersici) were sampled, surface-sterilized and cut into small pieces, which were cultured and incubated for 4–6 weeks. Isolates were grouped and identified by using both morphological and ITS rDNA molecular data. The diversity and community structure of plant-endophyte associations were studied. A total of 455 EF isolates were grouped into 25 different taxa; 21 of which were identified at the species level, 2 at genus level and 2 were unclassified fungi. Here, 95.65% of the identified genera were Ascomycota; of which 36.36, 31.81 and 31.81% were members of the classes Dothideomycetes, Eurotiomycetes and Sordariomycetes, respectively. S. imbricata showed the highest isolation rate and colonization frequency (CF%) of EF when compared to other plant species. Additionally, S. imbricata demonstrated the highest species richness and species diversity of the EF community predominated by the genus Fusarium. Conclusively, the core culturable EF genera of six wild plants were identified (unculturable taxa were not identified in this study). The composition of the EF community was revealed to have a strong correlation to both the electrical conductivity and pH of the soil and a moderate correlation to both the host species and the host family. The abundance and diversity of EF communities of the six plants were environment-dependent.

Highlights

The microorganisms that inhabit plants without causing any symptomatic diseases to the host plant are called endophytes [1]
Tissues of various plant species provided a supportive microenvironment for endophytic fungi, and the distribution of EF varies with the host plant
This study described the structure of EF communities associated with wild stress-tolerant desert plants grown in the Aljouf region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Summary

Introduction

The microorganisms that inhabit plants without causing any symptomatic diseases to the host plant are called endophytes [1]. Both fungi and bacteria could be endophytic [2]. All host plant tissues, including meristem tissues, are inhabited by microbial endophytes all over the world [2,3]. Endophytic fungi (EF) are believed to associate with plants 400 million years ago [4]. Tissues of various plant species provided a supportive microenvironment for endophytic fungi, and the distribution of EF varies with the host plant. Symbiosis of endophytic fungi–plant has been studied and proved for decades. The certain contribution of the host plant to EF biodiversity needs more investigation [5]

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