The endophytic mycobiota of Arabidopsis thaliana

Fungal endophytes are receiving increasing attention as resources to improve crop production and ecosystem management. However, the biology and ecological significance of these symbionts remains poorly understood, due to a lack of model systems for more efficient research. In this work, we have anal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fungal diversity 2013-05, Vol.60 (1), p.71-89
Main Authors: García, Elena, Alonso, Ángela, Platas, Gonzalo, Sacristán, Soledad
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abiotic factors
Arabidopsis thaliana
Biodiversity
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biotechnology
Crop production
Ecosystem management
Endophytes
Life Sciences
Medical Microbiology
Microbial Ecology
Microbiology
Mycology
Plant Physiology
Species composition
Species diversity
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Summary:Fungal endophytes are receiving increasing attention as resources to improve crop production and ecosystem management. However, the biology and ecological significance of these symbionts remains poorly understood, due to a lack of model systems for more efficient research. In this work, we have analyzed the culturable endophytic mycobiota associated, in the wild, with leaves and siliques of the model plant A. thaliana . We have studied the effect of biotic and abiotic factors in the frequency of fungal endophytes in plant specimens, and in the species composition of the endophytic community. Our results indicate that the frequency of Arabidopsis plants hosting endophytes depends on the time of the year and the phenological stage of the plant, and that the probability of endophyte colonization increases as the life cycle of the plant progresses. The diversity of the endophytic assemblages of natural A. thaliana populations was high, and precipitation and temperature were the two main factors determining the diversity and species composition of the communities. We propose A. thaliana and its endophytes as a model system for an integral approach to the principles governing the endophytic lifestyle, taking advantage of the molecular tools and the abundant knowledge accessible from the host plant.
ISSN:1560-2745
1878-9129
DOI:10.1007/s13225-012-0219-0