Fungal endophytes in woody roots of Douglas‐fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)

Abstract

SummaryThe fungal community inhabiting large woody roots of healthy conifers has not been well documented. To provide more information about such communities, a survey was conducted using increment cores from the woody roots of symptomless Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) growing in dry forests on the eastern slope of the Cascade Mountains in Washington state, USA. Fungal isolates were cultured on standard media, and then were identified using a combination of molecular and morphological methods. Fungal genera and species identified in this study will provide baseline data for future surveys of fungal endophytes. Examination of internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) and 5.8S rDNA sequences and morphology of cultured fungi identified 27 fungal genera. Two groups predominated: Byssochlamys nivea Westling (20.4% of isolations) and Umbelopsis species (10.4% of isolations). This is the first report of B. nivea within large woody roots of conifers. Both taxa have been previously identified as potential biological control agents. Although some trends were noted, this study found no significant evidence of host species or plant association effects on total recovery of fungal endophytes or recovery of specific fungal taxa.

Bifiguratus adelaidae, gen. et sp. nov., a new member of Mucoromycotina in endophytic and soil-dwelling habitats

“…For example, some Mucoromycotina grow on liverworts in the thallus midrib and subterranean axes (Field et al 2015a(Field et al , 2015b. Species of Umbelopsis associate with roots of orchids (Yu et al 2015), and some Mucor and Umbelopsis were isolated from woody roots of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir (Hoff et al 2004). In this study, isolates of the new lineage B. adelaidae were obtained from soil and as a putative endophyte of Leucobryum sp.…”

In vitro and in vivo interactions between Trichoderma viride and Fusarium circinatum

“…(Sacc.) Bubak (Table 2), have been described as common fungi associated with conifers (Hoff et al 2004, Zamora et al 2008, Botella et al 2010). Other fungi identified, such as Aureobasidium pullulans (de Bary) Arnaud, Penicillium sp.…”

Endophytic Fungi Associated with a Holoparasitic Plant, <i>Balanophora japonica</i> (Balanophoraceae)

“…LC109274-LC109304. All isolated fungal genera are known as common soil fungi and frequently found in various woody plant species as endophytes [23]- [25]. The similarity in fungal composition on B. japonica and its host suggested either a similar process of acquiring endophytic fungi from soil, horizontal transmission from hosts to parasites or both.…”