Revisiting endophytic fungi of the Pinus-Viscum-system to assess interdependencies among factors driving community structure.
DFG PE 1673/2-1
From 10/2011 to 03/2012Principal Investigator: Derek Peršoh
This study by Derek Peršoh explored the structure of endophytic fungal communities inhabiting Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine) and its parasitic plant Viscum album (mistletoe). Through molecular fingerprinting and multivariate analyses, the research revealed that fungal communities are strongly shaped by both the host species and the plant organ (e.g., needles, stems).
Interestingly, the endophyte assemblages in mistletoe organs were markedly different from those in pine, despite their close physical connection. Environmental factors such as site and season had only a minor influence, emphasizing the biological identity of the host as the key driver.
The findings offer new insights into host-specificity and niche differentiation of fungal endophytes, and suggest that parasitic systems like Pinus–Viscum provide a valuable model for disentangling ecological factors shaping microbial diversity.
List of publications of this Project
| Peršoh, D: Factors shaping community structure of endophytic fungi – evidence from the Pinus-Viscum-system, Fungal Diversity, 60(1), 55–69 (2013), doi:10.1007/s13225-013-0225-x -- Details |