Culturable endophytic filamentous fungi from leaves of transgenic imidazolinone-tolerant sugarcane and its non-transgenic isolines

• Published in: Archives of microbiology 2010-04, Vol.192 (4), p.307-313
• Main Authors: Stuart, Rodrigo Makowiecky, Romão, Aline Silva, Pizzirani-Kleiner, Aline Aparecida, Azevedo, João Lúcio, Araújo, Welington Luiz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ascomycota - classification; Ascomycota - drug effects; Ascomycota - genetics; Ascomycota - isolation & purification; Bacteria; Biochemistry; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Cell Biology; Crop management; Cultivars; DNA, Fungal - genetics; DNA, Ribosomal - genetics; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - genetics; Ecology; Endophytes; Enzymes; Ethanol; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; Fungi - classification; Fungi - drug effects; Fungi - genetics; Fungi - isolation & purification; Genetic engineering; Haplotypes; Heavy metals; Herbicides; Herbicides - pharmacology; Leaves; Life Sciences; Microbial Ecology; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Miscellaneous; Mutation; Mycology; Original Paper; Phylogeny; Plant Leaves - microbiology; Plants, Genetically Modified - microbiology; Saccharum - microbiology; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Soils; Sugarcane; Transgenic plants; Weed control
• ISSN: 0302-8933; 1432-072X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00203-010-0557-9

The diversity of endophytic filamentous fungi from leaves of transgenic imidazolinone-tolerant sugarcane plants and its isoline was evaluated by cultivation followed by amplified rDNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) of randomly selected strains. Transgenic and non-transgenic cultivars and their crop management (herbicide application or manual weed control) were used to assess the possible non-target effects of genetically modified sugarcane on the fungal endophytic community. A total of 14 ARDRA haplotypes were identified in the endophytic community of sugarcane. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing revealed a rich community represented by 12 different families from the Ascomycota phylum. Some isolates had a high sequence similarity with genera that are common endophytes in tropical climates, such as Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Guignardia, Pestalotiopsis and Xylaria. Analysis of molecular variance indicated that fluctuations in fungal population were related to both transgenic plants and herbicide application. While herbicide applications quickly induced transient changes in the fungal community, transgenic plants induced slower changes that were maintained over time. These results represent the first draft on composition of endophytic filamentous fungi associated with sugarcane plants. They are an important step in understanding the possible effects of transgenic plants and their crop management on the fungal endophytic community.