Unveiling the endophytic fungal communities in Iranian Achillea species: molecular insights into host specificity and colonization patterns

Sammanfattning

This study aimed to explore the diversity of fungal endophytes associated with Achillea wilhelmsii and A. arabica across various plant tissues, including roots, stems, leaves, and flowers, collected from different regions in Iran. Molecular identification of the fungal isolates was performed through the amplification of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and Large Subunit (LSU) ribosomal RNA regions. A total of 53 fungal isolates, representing 22 species from the phylum Ascomycota, were molecularly identified. Approximately 36% of these species were common to both plant hosts, while 64% exhibited host-specific colonization. The most prevalent genera were Fusarium and Alternaria, each comprising 28.30% of the total isolates. While the majority of the identified fungal species were novel fungal endophytes for A. wilhelmsii and A. arabica, several species, including Tricharina gilva, Preussia procaviae, Botryotinia ranunculi, Cladosporium variabile, Fusarium duafalcatisporum, and Pyrenophora teres, were previously unreported as plant endophytes. Overall, roots were the most suitable tissue for fungal colonization, followed by leaves, flowers, and stems, which appeared to be the least. Therefore, this study highlights the influence of geography and environmental conditions on fungal colonization patterns and ecological roles of endophytes, probably in herbivore-plant interactions. Further research is necessary to explore the bioactive metabolites of these fungi and their role in the medicinal properties of plants.

Nyckelord

Polymerase chain reaction; Symbiosis; Persian yarrow; Host plant specificity

Publicerad i

Symbiosis
2025
Utgivare: SPRINGER

SLU författare

• Mottaghipisheh, Javad

  • Institutionen för vatten och miljö, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

UKÄ forskningsämne

Mikrobiologi

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-025-01043-4

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/141434