Abstract
The endophytic microbiome is thought to play an important role in promoting plant growth and health. Using culture-independent and culture-dependent protocols, this study characterized the seasonal shifts in the endophytic fungal microbiota of four mulberry (Morus L.) cultivars having different levels of resistance to mulberry fruit sclerotiniosis. Core endophytes can be obtained by two approaches, and they were divided into two clusters by season. Spring samples harbored higher operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and α-diversity, while autumn samples had more sequences or isolates of the fungal class Dothideomycetes with the representative orders Capnodiales and Pleosporales. While comparing different mulberry cultivars, we found that the total number of OTUs in susceptible cultivars was higher than that of resistant cultivars, and Cladosporium sp. were observed in all. Notably, the causal agent of fruit sclerotiniosis (Scleromitrula shiraiana) was only detected in susceptible cultivars. Collectively, our work elucidated significant variations in the mulberry endophytic microbiome, mainly because of seasonal shifts, and the fact that the host cultivars and mulberry endophytic fungal community appeared to have a certain connection with the resistance level of mulberry fruit to sclerotiniosis. These results provided valuable information on the isolation and culturing of mulberry endophytes that could be applied to improve mulberry fruit production and health.
Highlights
IntroductionSericulture plays a key role in the Ancient Chinese Silk Road, and may be an important component in the Belt and Road Initiative efforts today
Biodiversity of Endophytic Fungi Based on ITS Amplicon Sequencing
operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of four mulberry cultivars in two seasons indicated that a greater alpha diversity of fungal OTUs were detected in the spring than in the autumn samples regardless of cultivar (Figure 1)
Summary
Sericulture plays a key role in the Ancient Chinese Silk Road, and may be an important component in the Belt and Road Initiative efforts today. Is used as a unique food source for silkworms (Bombyx mori), as well as for ecological stabilization and as a medicinal substance [1]. Mulberry fruit is considered to be beneficial for human health as it is rich in amino acids, vitamins and minerals [2,3]. The use of mulberry fruit is expected to increase to address the needs of the sericulture industry
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