Fungal Communities in the Native New Zealand Medicinal Plant Pseudowintera colorata (Horopito) Are Determined by Plant Organ Type and Host Maturity with Key Members Promoting Plant Growth.

Neeraj Purushotham,Eirian Jones,Hayley Ridgway,Jana Monk

doi:10.3390/microorganisms9122576

Neeraj Purushotham, Eirian Jones + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9122576

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Journal: Microorganisms	Publication Date: Dec 13, 2021
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Lincoln University, Plant & Food Research

Abstract

The plant Pseudowintera colorata is well known for its antimicrobial and medicinal properties and is endemic to New Zealand. Using PCR-Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), we investigated the factors influencing the composition of endophytic fungal communities in P. colorata from ten distinct sites across New Zealand. Our results showed that plant organs of P. colorata influenced the diversity and richness of endophytic fungi (PERMANOVA, p < 0.05). In addition, plant maturity and its interactions revealed that endophytic fungal communities formed discrete clusters in leaves, stems, and roots of mature and immature P. colorata plants (PERMANOVA; p = 0.002, p = 0.001 and p = 0.039, respectively). For identifying isolates with biocontrol potential, dual culture tests were set up against four different phytopathogenic fungi. Isolates with high activity (zone of inhibition > 10 mm) were sequenced and identified as Trichoderma harzianum, Pezicula neosporulosa, Fusarium tricinctum, Metarhizium sp., and Chaetomium sp. Applying selected endophytic fungi (n = 7) as soil drenchers significantly increased the growth of P. colorata seedlings and produced more internodes. Seedling shoots treated with Trichoderma sp. PRY2BA21 were 2.2 × longer (8.36 cm) than the untreated controls (3.72 cm). Our results elucidate the main plant factors influencing fungal community composition and demonstrate a role for endophytic fungi in P. colorata growth and further demonstrate that medicinal plants are a rich source of endophytes with potential as biocontrol agents.

Highlights

Almost all land plants are inhabited by endophytic microorganisms, including fungi [1]
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Summary

Introduction

Almost all land plants are inhabited by endophytic microorganisms, including fungi [1]. Endophytes are microbes that colonize inner plant tissues without causing any apparent symptoms of disease, and in return for nutrients and habitat, some can confer beneficial traits to the host plant, which include growth promotion, tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress, and biological control of phytopathogens [2–4]. Endophytic fungi have been identified for their potential to synthesize a wide variety of biologically active compounds, including the same or similar compounds for which the host plant is recognized [5–7]. Taxomyces andreanae, an endophytic fungus, and its host, Taxus brevifolia (Pacific yew tree), are both reported to produce paclitaxel (Taxol® ), an anticancer compound [8]. The anticancer drug camptothecin, the anticancer drug lead compound podophyllotoxin, and the natural insecticide azadirachtin are co-produced by the plants and their associated endophytic fungi [9–12].

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