| Title |
Distinctive Endophytic Fungal Assemblage in Stems of Wild Rice (Oryza granulata) in China with Special Reference to Two Species of Muscodor (Xylariaceae) |
| Author |
Zhi-lin Yuan1,2, Zhen-zhu Su1, Li-juan Mao3, Yang-qing Peng4, Guan-mei Yang1, Fu-cheng Lin1, and Chu-long Zhang1* |
| Address |
1Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, P. R. China, 2Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Fuyang, Zhejiang Province,311400, P. R. China, 3985-Institute of Agrobiology and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, P. R. China, 4Department of Applied Biological Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, P. R. China |
| Bibliography |
Journal of Microbiology, 49(1),15-23, 2011,
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| DOI |
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| Key Words |
endophytic fungi, singletons, host specificity, volatile organic compounds, antibiosis |
| Abstract |
Ecological niches in the rhizosphere and phyllosphere of grasses capable of sustaining endophytes have been extensively studied. In contrast, little information regarding the identity and functions of endophytic fungi in stems is available. In this study, we investigated the taxonomic affinities, diversity, and host specificities
of culturable endophytes in stems of wild rice (Oryza granulata) in China. Seventy-four isolates were recovered. Low recovery rate (11.7%) indicated that there were relatively few sites for fungal infection. Identification using morphology, morphospecies sorting, and molecular techniques resulted in classification
into 50 taxa, 36 of which were recovered only once. Nucleotide sequence similarity analysis indicated that 30% of the total taxa recovered were highly divergent from known species and thus may represent lineages new to science. Most of the taxa were classified as members of the classes Sordariomycetes or Dothideomycetes
(mainly in Pleosporales). The presence of Arthrinium and Magnaporthaceae species, most often associated with poaceous plants, suggested a degree of host specificity. A polyphasic approach was employed to identify two Muscodor taxa based on (i) ITS and RPB2 phylogenies, (ii) volatile compounds produced, and (iii)
an in vitro bioassay of antifungal activity. This to our knowledge is only the second report regarding the isolation of Muscodor spp. in China. Therefore, we hypothesize that wild plants represent a huge reservoir of unknown fungi. The prevalence, novelty, and species-specificity of unique isolates necessitate a reevaluation
of their contribution to ecosystem function and fungal biodiversity. |
