Examination of Host-Taxon, Environment, and Distance Effects on Leaf Fungal Endophytes in the Dominant Woody Genus, Metrosideros, on Oʻahu

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-28-2021

Publication Title

Fungal Ecology

Volume

53

First page number:

1

Last page number:

9

Abstract

Fungal endophyte (FE) communities can be shaped by environmental conditions and/or host-plant affinities. Hawaiʻi's landscape-dominant woody genus Metrosideros (Myrtaceae) comprises several vegetatively distinct taxa that are non-randomly distributed across environments, and their FE communities are poorly known. We examined the relative importance of Metrosideros taxon and environment (elevation) on FE communities on Oʻahu. ITS1 rDNA barcoding and sequencing of 113 trees detected a richness of 1,637 FEs representing 5 phyla, 223 genera, and 200 species. Variation in FE diversity was significantly explained by host taxon and site with considerable overlap in FE communities among taxa. FE communities did not vary between pubescent and glabrous taxa or across elevations, possibly due to the relatively narrow range of environmental conditions represented on Oʻahu relative to taller islands. A significant pattern of isolation by distance in FE composition was detected both among and within sites, consistent with restricted dispersal of FEs across the island.

Keywords

Elevation; Fungal endophytes; Host-specificity; Isolation by distance; Metrosideros (Myrtaceae); O‘ahu

Disciplines

Fungi | Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences | Organisms | Plant Sciences

Language

English

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