Beauveria and Metarhizium fungi are facultative plant endophytes that provide plant growth-stimulating, immunomodulatory, and other beneficial effects. However, little is known about the level of plant colonization by these fungi under natural conditions. We assessed the endophytic colonization of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) with entomopathogenic fungi at their natural load in soils (102-104 colony-forming units per g). Microbiological analyses of soils and plant organs, as well as a metagenomic analysis of potato roots and leaves, were conducted in three locations in Western Siberia, consisting of conventional agrosystems and kitchen gardens. The fungi were isolated at a relatively high frequency from unsterilized roots (up to 53% of Metarhizium-positive plants). However, the fungi were sparsely isolated from the internal tissues of roots, stems, and leaves (3%). Among the genus Metarhizium, two species, M. robertsii and M. brunneum, were detected in plants as well as in soils, and the first species was predominant. A metagenomic analysis of internal potato tissues showed a low relative abundance of Beauveria and Metarhizium (<0.3%), and the communities were represented primarily by phytopathogens. We suggest that colonization of the internal tissues of potatoes occurs sporadically under a natural load of entomopathogenic fungi in soils. The lack of stable colonization of potato plants with Beauveria and Metarhizium may be due to competition with phytopathogens.
Keywords: ITS; ascomycetes; endophytes; fungal communities; metagenomics; rhizosphere.