Cross-phytogroup assessment of foliar epiphytic mycobiomes

Abstract

The foliar surface forms one of the largest aboveground habitats on Earth and maintains plant-fungus relationships that greatly affect ecosystem functioning. Despite many studies with particular plant species, the foliar epiphytic mycobiome has not been studied across a large number of plant species from different taxa. Using high-throughput sequencing, we assessed epiphytic mycobiomes on leaf surfaces of 592 plant species in a botanical garden. Plants of angiosperms, gymnosperms, and pteridophytes were involved. Plant taxonomy, leaf side, growing environment, and evolutionary relationships were considered. We found that pteridophytes showed the higher fungal species diversity, stronger mutualistic fungal interactions, and a greater percentage of putative pathogens than gymnosperms and angiosperms. Plant taxonomic group, leaf side, and growing environment were significantly associated with the foliar epiphytic mycobiome, but the similarity of the mycobiomes among plants was not directly related to the distance of the host evolutionary tree. Our results provide a general understanding of the foliar fungal mycobiomes from pteridophytes to angiosperms. These findings will facilitate our understanding of foliar fungal epiphytes and their roles in plant communities and ecosystems.