Mainland and island populations of Mussaenda kwangtungensis differ in their phyllosphere fungal community composition and network structure

Xin Qian,Hongyue Cai,Miaomiao Shi,Shengchun Li,Niuniu Ji,Yonglong Wang,Dianxiang Zhang,Hui Yao,Binwei Wu

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-57622-6

Abstract

We compared community composition and co-occurrence patterns of phyllosphere fungi between island and mainland populations within a single plant species (Mussaenda kwangtungensis) using high-throughput sequencing technology. We then used 11 microsatellite loci for host genotyping. The island populations differed significantly from their mainland counterparts in phyllosphere fungal community structure. Topological features of co-occurrence network showed geographic patterns wherein fungal assemblages were less complex, but more modular in island regions than mainland ones. Moreover, fungal interactions and community composition were strongly influenced by the genetic differentiation of host plants. This study may advance our understanding of assembly principles and ecological interactions of phyllosphere fungal communities, as well as improve our ability to optimize fungal utilization for the benefit of people.

Highlights

We compared community composition and co-occurrence patterns of phyllosphere fungi between island and mainland populations within a single plant species (Mussaenda kwangtungensis) using highthroughput sequencing technology
An average of 94 ± 4 operational taxonomic unites (OTUs) per individual plant was found with 101 ± 6 OTUs per mainland sample and 86 ± 6 OTUs per island sample
260 genera were identified in phyllosphere fungal community of M. kwangtungensis

Summary

Introduction

We compared community composition and co-occurrence patterns of phyllosphere fungi between island and mainland populations within a single plant species (Mussaenda kwangtungensis) using highthroughput sequencing technology. The island and mainland patterns of phyllosphere fungal distribution have seldom been studied, and the relationships between their community structure and host plant genetic differentiation are poorly characterized. The main aims of this study were to: (1) investigate whether the community composition of the island phyllosphere fungi dffered significantly from their mainland counterparts; (2) explore the co-occurrence patterns of phyllosphere fungal microbiomes in island and mainland populations, respectively; (3) evaluate the importance of host genetic structure on variation in the fungal community composition and co-occurrence network structure of a single plant species with an island-mainland distribution

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Conclusion