Abstract
This work, for the first time, investigated the diversity of endophytic fungi harbored in the xylem and phloem of the root of Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep from three geographic localities with emphasis on the influence of the tissue type and geographic locality on endophytic fungal communities and their potential as biocontrol agents against phytopathogens of Panax notoginseng. A total of 655 fungal strains representing 47 taxa were isolated. Forty‐two taxa (89.4%) were identified but not five taxa (10.6%) according to morphology and molecular phylogenetics. Out of identifiable taxa, the majority of endophyte taxa were Ascomycota (76.6%), followed by Basidiomycota (8.5%) and Zygomycota (4.3%). The alpha‐diversity indices indicated that the species diversity of endophytic fungal community harbored in the root of S. tonkinensis was very high. The colonization and species diversity of endophytic fungal communities were significantly influenced by the geographic locality but not tissue type. The geographic locality and tissue type had great effects on the species composition of endophytic fungal communities. Forty‐seven respective strains were challenged by three fungal phytopathogens of P. notoginseng and six strains exhibited significant inhibitory activity. It was noteworthy that endophytic Rhexocercosporidium sp. and F. solani strongly inhibited pathogenic F. solani and other fungal phytopathogens of P. notoginseng.
Highlights
Endophytes are microorganisms that reside within internal tissues of living plants without visibly harming the host plant (Clay, 1992; Hyde & Soytong, 2008; Schulz & Boyle, 2005)
The aim of this study was to isolate and identify endophytic fungi harbored in the root of S. tonkinensis, characterize the diversity of endophytic fungal communities, investigate the influence of the tissue type and geographic locality on the colonization, species diversity, and species composition of endophytic fungal communities, and further screen them for potential as biocontrol agents against three phytopathogens of P. notoginseng cultivated in China
In 2014, healthy plants of S. tonkinensis were collected in three periods from three different localities of traditional geo-a uthentic-producing areas (Wang et al, 2011) in Guangxi province of south China: Tiandeng county (T), where S. tonkinensis grows as a natural part of an intact shrub forest; Jingxi county (J), where S. tonkinensis grows in the rock crack in limestone mountainous areas; and Guangxi university (G), where S. tonkinensis is cultivated in a medicinal herb garden
Summary
Endophytes are microorganisms that reside within internal tissues of living plants without visibly harming the host plant (Clay, 1992; Hyde & Soytong, 2008; Schulz & Boyle, 2005). Enormous biological diversity (Li, Zhao, Liu, & Xu, 2010; Tejesvi, Kajula, Mattila, & Pirttilä, 2011) coupled with capability to biosynthesize bioactive secondary metabolites (Aly, Debbab, Kjer, & Proksch, 2010; Chandra, 2012) and tremendous potential as biocontrol agents The aim of this study was to isolate and identify endophytic fungi harbored in the root of S. tonkinensis, characterize the diversity of endophytic fungal communities, investigate the influence of the tissue type and geographic locality on the colonization, species diversity, and species composition of endophytic fungal communities, and further screen them for potential as biocontrol agents against three phytopathogens of P. notoginseng cultivated in China. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to describe the diversity, phylogeny, and communities of endophytic fungi harbored in the root of S. tonkinensis, and assess their potential as biocontrol agents against phytopathogens of P. notoginseng
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