ABSTRACT
Microbes strongly affect invasive plant growth. However, how phyllosphere and rhizosphere soil microbes distinctively affect seedling mortality and growth of invaders across ontogeny under varying soil nutrient levels remains unclear. In this study, we used the invader Ageratina adenophora to evaluate these effects. We found that higher proportions of potential pathogens were detected in core microbial taxa in leaf litter than rhizosphere soil and thus leaf inoculation had more adverse effects on seed germination and seedling survival than soil inoculation. Microbial inoculation at different growth stages altered the microbial community and functions of seedlings, and earlier inoculation had a more adverse effect on seedling survival and growth. The soil nutrient level did not affect microbe-mediated seedling growth and the relative abundance of the microbial community and functions involved in seedling growth. The effects of some microbial genera on seedling survival are distinct from those on growth. Moreover, the A. adenophora seedling-killing effects of fungal strains isolated from dead seedlings by non-sterile leaf inoculation exhibited significant phylogenetic signals, by which strains of Allophoma and Alternaria generally caused high seedling mortality. Our study stresses the essential role of A. adenophora litter microbes in population establishment by regulating seedling density and growth.
Subject(s)
Ageratina , Plant Leaves , Rhizosphere , Seedlings , Soil Microbiology , Ageratina/microbiology , Seedlings/microbiology , Seedlings/growth & development , Plant Leaves/microbiology , Plant Leaves/growth & development , Microbiota , Introduced Species , GerminationABSTRACT
Endoparasitic fungi are a group of nematophagous fungi which produce a variety of special spores to infect free nematodes. They play a key role in maintaining the population density of nematodes in the natural systems. Moreover, they are important materials for the study of species diversity. Therefore, they have special research significance and economic values. At present, many studies mainly focus on the infectivity of trapping fungi to nematodes, and mainly directed at the second instars larvae. However, the endoparasitic fungi have infectivity to nematodes at all stages. Here, we reviewed the resource status, diversity of spore morphology, infection modes, life history and host of endoparasitic fungi, and the biocontrol fungi with development potential and their commercialized application. Finally, we proposed some suggestions for future researches.