High diversity of fungal ecological groups in Andean-Patagonian Nothofagus forests.

Native Andean-Patagonian Nothofagus forests harbour a unique diversity of microorganisms with diverse ecological roles. Although ectomycorrhizal associations constitute an important fragment of the biota associated with these forests, the factors affecting such communities are largely unknown. We investigated the biodiversity, relative abundance, and composition of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in relation to two host tree species and ages and the soil properties in six monospecific and mixed evergreen-deciduous Nothofagus forests. We used the internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region by sequencing 9,600 ectomycorrhizae (ECM) root tips for the identification of fungi. In total, 1,125 fungal taxa at the genus level distributed over 131 orders were identified. The phyla Ascomycota (34.5%) and Basidiomycota (62.1%) were the most abundant, whereas Mucoromycota (3.1%), Chytridiomycota, Cryptomycota, Olpidiomycota, and Zoopagomycota occurred less frequently. The highest taxon diversity was found in old trees, whereas young trees often exhibited a lower diversity of the associated fungi. The fungal taxa were grouped into seven broad ecological categories, of which saprotrophic associations were most common, followed by pathotrophic, pathotrophic-saprotrophic-symbiotrophic, pathotrophic-saprotrophic, and symbiotrophic associations. We did not detect significant differences in the number of taxa in each category between young and old N. dombeyi and N. obliqua. Overall, the scale of the Illumina sequencing approach allowed us to detect a fungal taxa diversity that would not be possible to find through surveys of fruiting bodies alone and that have never been observed in Nothofagus forests before. Our findings suggest the impact of the proximity between sites, the similarity of the soil conditions, and anthropogenic use of the forests on the belowground fungal community's diversity and composition. Furthermore, there were differences between above- and belowground occurrences of the edible mushrooms B. loyo and Ramaria spp. However, future research, including on EMC tips found beneath fairy rings could provide significantly better correlations with the occurrence of aboveground fruiting body.

The fertilization process in Lithocarpus dealbatus (Fagaceae) and its implication on the sexual reproduction evolution of Fagales.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The pistillate flowers of Lithocarpus dealbatus show two pollen tube (PT) arresting sites (the style-joining and micropyle) within the pistil during the postpollination-prezygotic stage. The PT, arrested at the pre-ovule stage, enhanced PT competition allowing the most compatible PTs to enter the ovary to ensure the highest fertilization success. During the shift from animal pollination to wind pollination, plants require a series of changes in reproductive traits. The mode of pollination is striking labile in Fagaceae. Lithocarpus is insect pollinated and is closely related to wind-pollinated Quercus. Little is known about the sexual reproduction of Lithocarpus. This study aimed to reveal the sexual reproduction of Lithocarpus dealbatus and to explore the evolutionary pattern of the key sexual reproduction traits to better understand their possible role in labile pollination. We found that after pollination, L. dealbatus PTs grew slowly in the style reaching style-joining in mid-January of the second year; then PT growth was arrested at style-joining for four months. Only two to three PTs resumed growth in mid-May to reach the micropyle, where PT growth ceased for one month before one PT resumed growth and passed through the micropyle to the embryo sac. Fagaceae showed a generalized mating system. Vast pollen production, small-sized pollen grains, long stigmatic receptive time, and reduced perianth were compatible with beetle pollination syndrome, representing the plesiomorphic status in Fagaceae. A large stigmatic surface and dry pollen grains linked to wind pollination might be independently derived several times in fagaceous lineages. Beetle pollination syndrome can cope with the uncertainty of pollinators to ensure conspecific pollen capture, which represents pre-adaptation status and has a selective advantage when conditions change, favouring wind pollination. The arrest of the PT at style-joining is a unique mechanism in later derived fagaceous lineages to enhance PT competition and promote outcrossing.

Bet v 1-independent sensitization to major allergens in Fagales pollen: Evidence at the T-cell level.

BACKGROUND: In birch-dominated areas, allergies to pollen from trees of the order Fagales are considered to be initiated by the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1. However, the sensitizing activity of Bet v 1-homologs in Fagales pollen might be underestimated. Allergen-specific T-cells are crucial in the sensitization process. The T-cell response to major allergens from alder, hazel, oak, hornbeam, chestnut, beech, and chestnut pollen has not yet been analyzed. Here, we characterized the cellular cross-reactivity of major allergens in Fagales pollen with Bet v 1. METHODS: T-cell-lines (TCL) were established from allergic individuals with Aln g 1, Car b 1, Ost c 1, Cor a 1, Fag s 1, Cas s 1, and Que a 1, and tested for reactivity with Bet v 1 and synthetic overlapping 12-mer peptides representing its primary sequence. Aln g 1-specific TCL was additionally tested with Aln g 1-derived peptides and all allergens. IgE-competition experiments with Aln g 1 and Bet v 1 were performed. RESULTS: T-cell-lines initiated with Fagales pollen allergens varied strongly in their reactivity with Bet v 1 and by the majority responded stronger to the original stimulus. Cross-reactivity was mostly restricted to the epitope Bet v 1142-153 . No distinct cross-reactivity of Aln g 1-specific T-cells with Bet v 1 was detected. Among 22 T-cell epitopes, Aln g 1 contained two immunodominant epitopes. Bet v 1 inhibited IgE-binding to Aln g 1 less potently than Aln g 1 itself. CONCLUSION: The cellular cross-reactivity of major Fagales pollen allergens with Bet v 1 was unincisive, particularly for Aln g 1, most akin to Bet v 1. Our results indicate that humoral and cellular responses to these allergens are not predominantly based on cross-reactivity with the major birch pollen allergen but suggest a Bet v 1-independent sensitization in individuals from birch tree-dominated areas.

Plastome phylogenomics provide new perspective into the phylogeny and evolution of Betulaceae (Fagales).

BACKGROUND: Betulaceae is a relatively small but morphologically diverse family, with many species having important economic and ecological values. Although plastome structure of Betulaceae has been reported sporadically, a comprehensive exploration for plastome evolution is still lacking. Besides, previous phylogenies had been constructed based on limited gene fragments, generating unrobust phylogenetic framework and hindering further studies on divergence ages, biogeography and character evolution. Here, 109 plastomes (sixteen newly assembled and 93 previously published) were subject to comparative genomic and phylogenomic analyses to reconstruct a robust phylogeny and trace the diversification history of Betulaceae. RESULTS: All Betulaceae plastomes were highly conserved in genome size, gene order, and structure, although specific variations such as gene loss and IR boundary shifts were revealed. Ten divergent hotspots, including five coding regions (Pi > 0.02) and five noncoding regions (Pi > 0.035), were identified as candidate DNA barcodes for phylogenetic analysis and species delimitation. Phylogenomic analyses yielded high-resolution topology that supported reciprocal monophyly between Betula and Alnus within Betuloideae, and successive divergence of Corylus, Ostryopsis, and Carpinus-Ostrya within Coryloideae. Incomplete lineage sorting and hybridization may be responsible for the mutual paraphyly between Ostrya and Carpinus. Betulaceae ancestors originated from East Asia during the upper Cretaceous; dispersals and subsequent vicariance accompanied by historical environment changes contributed to its diversification and intercontinental disjunction. Ancestral state reconstruction indicated the acquisition of many taxonomic characters was actually the results of parallel or reversal evolution. CONCLUSIONS: Our research represents the most comprehensive taxon-sampled and plastome-level phylogenetic inference for Betulaceae to date. The results clearly document global patterns of plastome structural evolution, and established a well-supported phylogeny of Betulaceae. The robust phylogenetic framework not only provides new insights into the intergeneric relationships, but also contributes to a perspective on the diversification history and evolution of the family.

Paradigms of actinorhizal symbiosis under the regime of global climatic changes: New insights and perspectives.

Nitrogen occurs as inert and inaccessible dinitrogen gaseous form (N2 ) in the atmosphere. Biological nitrogen fixation is a chief process that makes this dinitrogen (N2 ) accessible and bioavailable in the form of ammonium (NH4 + ) ions. The key organisms to fix nitrogen are certain prokaryotes, called diazotrophs either in the free-living form or establishing significant mutual relationships with a variety of plants. On such examples is ~95-100 MY old incomparable symbiosis between dicotyledonous trees and a unique actinobacterial diazotroph in diverse ecosystems. In this association, the root of the certain dicotyledonous tree (~25 genera and 225 species) belonging to three different taxonomic orders, Fagales, Cucurbitales, and Rosales (FaCuRo) known as actinorhizal trees can host a diazotroph, Frankia of order Frankiales. Frankia is gram-positive, branched, filamentous, sporulating, and free-living soil actinobacterium. It resides in the specialized, multilobed, and coralloid organs (lateral roots but without caps), the root nodules of actinorhizal tress. This review aims to provide systematic information on the distribution and the phylogenetic diversity of hosts from FaCuRo and their micro-endosymbionts (Frankia spp.), colonization mechanisms, and signaling pathways. We also aim to provide details on developmental and physiological imperatives for gene regulation and functional genomics of symbiosis, phenomenal restoration ecology, influences of contemporary global climatic changes, and anthropogenic impacts on plant-Frankia interactions for the functioning of ecosystems and the biosphere.

An integrated high-resolution mapping shows congruent biodiversity patterns of Fagales and Pinales.

The documentation of biodiversity distribution through species range identification is crucial for macroecology, biogeography, conservation, and restoration. However, for plants, species range maps remain scarce and often inaccurate. We present a novel approach to map species ranges at a global scale, integrating polygon mapping and species distribution modelling (SDM). We develop a polygon mapping algorithm by considering distances and nestedness of occurrences. We further apply an SDM approach considering multiple modelling algorithms, complexity levels, and pseudo-absence selections to map the species at a high spatial resolution and intersect it with the generated polygons. We use this approach to construct range maps for all 1957 species of Fagales and Pinales with data compilated from multiple sources. We construct high-resolution global species richness maps of these important plant clades, and document diversity hotspots for both clades in southern and south-western China, Central America, and Borneo. We validate the approach with two representative genera, Quercus and Pinus, using previously published coarser range maps, and find good agreement. By efficiently producing high-resolution range maps, our mapping approach offers a new tool in the field of macroecology for studying global species distribution patterns and supporting ongoing conservation efforts.

Convoluted maxillary stylets among Australian Thysanoptera Phlaeothripinae associated mainly with Casuarinaceae trees.

The diversity is reviewed of Phlaeothripinae in Australia with unusually long or convoluted maxillary stylets. This comprises a total of 28 species in eight genera, including Enigmathrips carnarvoni gen et sp.n., Adrothrips latrarei sp.n., A. lihongae sp.n., A. madiae sp.n., A mitcheli sp.n., A. vernoni sp.n., and A. westoni sp.n., also Heligmothrips exallus sp.n., H. macropus sp.n., H. narrabri sp.n. and H. xanthoskelus sp.n., and Iotatubothrips daguilari sp.n. Among Phlaeothripinae, such exceptionally long feeding stylets are known only from Australia and have evolved independently within the unrelated genera Adrothrips and Heligmothrips in association with the green branchlets of Casuarinaceae species. A few species appear to have diverged in their feeding habits and have adapted to fungal-hyphal feeding on the trunks of trees.

High antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds dampens oxidative stress in Espinosa nothofagi galls induced on Nothofagus obliqua buds.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are considered the first signaling molecules involved in gall development, linked to the establishment of cyto-histological gradients leading to gall tissue redifferentiation. ROS overproduction induces the failure of gall establishment or its premature senescence. Galls could therefore have efficient mechanisms of ROS dissipation and maintenance of homeostasis, such as polyphenol synthesis. The co-occurrence of ROS and polyphenols in the Espinosa nothofagi galls induced on Nothofagus obliqua buds was explored and was related to the antioxidant capacity of the inner (IC) and outer (OC) gall compartments. We hypothesize that: (i) ROS are produced and accumulated in both tissue compartments of E. nothofagi galls in co-occurrence with polyphenolic, flavonols, and lignin, conferring high antioxidant activity to inner and outer gall tissue compartment; (ii) antioxidant activity is higher in IC related to a higher polyphenol concentration in this compartment. The results show that ROS and polyphenols, mainly flavonols, are produced and accumulated in IC and OC, while lignin accumulated mainly in the IC. In both gall compartments, polyphenols mediate ROS elimination, confirmed by histochemical and spectrophotometry techniques. The IC extract has the highest antioxidant capacity, probably due to lignin deposition and a higher polyphenol concentration in this compartment.

Natural products isolation studies of the paleoendemic plant species Nothofagus gunnii and Nothofagus cunninghamii.

The first natural product isolation studies of Nothofagus gunnii (Hook.f.) Oerst and Nothofagus cunninghamii (Hook.f.) Oerst have been undertaken. A previously unreported stilbene derivative, pinosylvin monoacetate, was isolated from the leaves of N. gunnii, in addition to 14 known compounds; including the flavonoids galangin, pinobanksin, catechin and quercetin; sesquiterpenoids such as, ilicol and (+)-ß-costol acetate; 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxychalcone and pinosylvin. Four known flavonoid natural products, catechin, quercetin, ayanin, and avicularin were isolated from the leaves of N. cunninghamii. This study reveals that N. gunnii is a rich source of flavonoid, chalcone and stilbene compounds, while primarily hydroxyflavonoid compounds are found in N. cunninghamii. The isolated phytochemicals are consistent with the evolutionary relationships suggested to exist among Nothofagus species.

Genome-wide analysis of MYB transcription factors and their responses to salt stress in Casuarina equisetifolia.

BACKGROUND: MYB transcription factors are a kind of DNA binding protein that can specifically interact with the promoter region. Members of MYB TFs are widely involved in plant growth and development, secondary metabolism, stress response, and hormone signal transduction. However, there is no report of comprehensive bioinformatics analysis on the MYB family of Casuarina equisetifolia. RESULTS: In this study, bioinformatics methods were used to screen out 182 MYB transcription factors from the Casuarina equisetifolia genome database, including 69 1R-MYB, 107 R2R3-MYB, 4 R1R2R3-MYB, and 2 4R-MYB. The C. equisetifolia R2R3-MYB genes were divided into 29 groups based on the phylogenetic topology and the classification of the MYB superfamily in Arabidopsis thaliana, while the remaining MYB genes (1R-MYB, R1R2R3-MYB, and 4R-MYB) was divided into 19 groups. Moreover, the conserved motif and gene structure analysis shown that the members of the CeqMYBs were divided into the same subgroups with mostly similar gene structures. In addition, many conserved amino acids in the R2 and R3 domains of CeqMYBs by WebLogo analysis, especially tryptophan residues (W), with 3 conserved W in R2 repeat and 2 conserved W in R3 repeat. Combining promoter and GO annotation analysis, speculated on the various biological functions of CeqMYBs, thus 32 MYB genes were selected to further explore its response to salt stress by using qPCR analysis technique. Most CeqMYB genes were differentially regulated following multiple salt treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Seven genes (CeqMYB164, CeqMYB4, CeqMYB53, CeqMYB32, CeqMYB114, CeqMYB71 and CeqMYB177) were assigned to the "response to salt stress" by GO annotation. Among them, the expression level of CeqMYB4 was up-regulated under various salt treatments, indicating CeqMYB4 might participated in the response to salt stress. Our results provide important information for the biological function of C. equisetifolia, as well as offer candidate genes for further study of salt stress mechanism.

Plastid phylogenomic analyses of Fagales reveal signatures of conflict and ancient chloroplast capture.

Plastid phylogenomic analyses have shed light on many recalcitrant relationships across the angiosperm Tree of Life and continue to play an important role in plant phylogenetics alongside nuclear data sets given the utility of plastomes for revealing ancient and recent introgression. Here we conduct a plastid phylogenomic study of Fagales, aimed at exploring contentious relationships (e.g., the placement of Myricaceae and some intergeneric relationships in Betulaceae, Juglandaceae, and Fagaceae) and dissecting conflicting phylogenetic signals across the plastome. Combining 102 newly sequenced samples with publically available plastomes, we analyzed a dataset including 256 species and 32 of the 34 total genera of Fagales, representing the largest plastome-based study of the order to date. We find strong support for a sister relationship between Myricaceae and Juglandaceae, as well as strongly supported conflicting signal for alternative generic relationships in Betulaceae and Juglandaceae. These conflicts highlight the sensitivity of plastid phylogenomic analyses to genic composition, perhaps due to the prevalence of uninformative loci and heterogeneity in signal across different regions of the plastome. Phylogenetic relationships were geographically structured in subfamily Quercoideae, with Quercus being non-monophyletic and its sections forming clades with co-distributed Old World or New World genera of Quercoideae. Compared against studies based on nuclear genes, these results suggest extensive introgression and chloroplast capture in the early diversification of Quercus and Quercoideae. This study provides a critical plastome perspective on Fagales phylogeny, setting the stage for future studies employing more extensive data from the nuclear genome.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellites for the endangered endemic tree Nothofagus alessandrii (Nothofagaceae).

Nothofagus alessandrii (Nothofagaceae) is one of the most endangered trees from Chile due to high rates of habitat disturbance caused by human activities. Despite its conservation status, few molecular markers are available to study its population genetic, connectivity and to assist reproduction programs. Thus, the species needs urgent actions to restore its original distribution. Novel polymorphic microsatellites from the genome of N. alessandrii were isolated and characterized using high-through sequencing. A total of 30 primer pairs were synthesized and 18 microsatellites were amplified correctly. Polymorphism and genetic diversity was evaluated in 58 individuals from three populations of N. alessandrii. Sixteen of them were polymorphic and the number of alleles in the pooled sample ranged from 2 to 14, the mean number of alleles was 4.81. The mean values of observed heterozigosity (HO) and excepted heterozygosity (HE) are similar in all studied populations. Linkage disequilibrium was found between a few pairs of loci (five out of 263 tests) suggesting that most of the markers can be considered as independent. Significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.05) were found in four loci probably due to low sampling size. Transferability to the congeneric N. pumilio was successful in only four out of the sixteen polymorphic markers. The microsatellite markers developed in this study will be useful to study the genetic diversity and structure and to develop integrated management plans for the conservation of this endangered species.

Deciphering the transcriptomic regulation of heat stress responses in Nothofagus pumilio.

Global warming is predicted to exert negative impacts on plant growth due to the damaging effect of high temperatures on plant physiology. Revealing the genetic architecture underlying the heat stress response is therefore crucial for the development of conservation strategies, and for breeding heat-resistant plant genotypes. Here we investigated the transcriptional changes induced by heat in Nothofagus pumilio, an emblematic tree species of the sub-Antarctic forests of South America. Through the performance of RNA-seq of leaves of plants exposed to 20°C (control) or 34°C (heat shock), we generated the first transcriptomic resource for the species. We also studied the changes in protein-coding transcripts expression in response to heat. We found 5,214 contigs differentially expressed between temperatures. The heat treatment resulted in a down-regulation of genes related to photosynthesis and carbon metabolism, whereas secondary metabolism, protein re-folding and response to stress were up-regulated. Moreover, several transcription factor families like WRKY or ERF were promoted by heat, alongside spliceosome machinery and hormone signaling pathways. Through a comparative analysis of gene regulation in response to heat in Arabidopsis thaliana, Populus tomentosa and N. pumilio we provide evidence of the existence of shared molecular features of heat stress responses across angiosperms, and identify genes of potential biotechnological application.

IgE-cross-blocking antibodies to Fagales following sublingual immunotherapy with recombinant Bet v 1.

BACKGROUND: Evidence has accumulated that birch pollen immunotherapy reduces rhinoconjunctivitis to pollen of birch homologous trees. Therapeutic efficacy has been associated with IgE-blocking IgG antibodies. We have recently shown that sera collected after 16 weeks of sublingual immunotherapy with recombinant Bet v 1 (rBet v 1-SLIT) display strong IgE-blocking bioactivity for Bet v 1. Here, we assessed whether rBet v 1-SLIT-induced IgG antibodies display cross-blocking activity to related allergens in Fagales pollen. METHODS: IgE, IgG1 and IgG4 reactivity to recombinant Bet v 1, Aln g 1, Car b 1, Ost c 1, Cor a 1, Fag s 1, Cas s 1 and Que a 1 were assessed in pre- and post-SLIT samples of 17 individuals by ELISA. A basophil inhibition assay using stripped basophils re-sensitized with a serum pool containing high Bet v 1-specific IgE levels was established and used to assess CD63 expression in response to allergens after incubation with pre-SLIT or post-SLIT samples. IgG1 and IgG4 were depleted from post-SLIT samples to assess its contribution to IgE-cross-blocking. RESULTS: Sublingual immunotherapy with recombinant Bet v 1 boosted cross-reactive IgE antibodies and induced IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies with inter- and intra-individually differing reactivity to the homologs. Highly variable cross-blocking activities of post-SLIT samples to the different allergens were found. IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies displayed cross-blocking activity with individual variance. CONCLUSIONS: Our mechanistic approach suggested that immunotherapy with the reference allergen Bet v 1 induces individual repertoires of cross-reactive IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies. The cross-blocking bioactivity of these antibodies was also highly variable and neither predictable from protein homology nor IgE-cross-reactivity.

Branch-Localized Induction Promotes Efficacy of Volatile Defences and Herbivore Predation in Trees.

Induction of plant defences can show various levels of localization, which can optimize their efficiency. Locally induced responses may be particularly important in large plants, such as trees, that show high variability in traits and herbivory rates across their canopies. We studied the branch-localized induction of polyphenols, volatiles (VOCs), and changes in leaf protein content in Carpinus betulus L., Quercus robur L., and Tilia cordata L. in a common garden experiment. To induce the trees, we treated ten individuals per species on one branch with methyl jasmonate. Five other individuals per species served as controls. We measured the traits in the treated branches, in control branches on treated trees, and in control trees. Additionally, we ran predation assays and caterpillar food-choice trials to assess the effects of our treatment on other trophic levels. Induced VOCs included mainly mono- and sesquiterpenes. Their production was strongly localized to the treated branches in all three tree species studied. Treated trees showed more predation events than control trees. The polyphenol levels and total protein content showed a limited response to the treatment. Yet, winter moth caterpillars preferred leaves from control branches over leaves from treated branches within C. betulus individuals and leaves from control Q. robur individuals over leaves from treated Q. robur individuals. Our results suggest that there is a significant level of localization in induction of VOCs and probably also in unknown traits with direct effects on herbivores. Such localization allows trees to upregulate defences wherever and whenever they are needed.

Genetic diversity and population structure in Nothofagus pumilio, a foundation species of Patagonian forests: defining priority conservation areas and management.

Patagonian forests are the southernmost temperate forests in the world, and Nothofagus pumilio is one of their most ecologically important tree species (i.e., a foundation species). It presents great adaptability and a wide distribution range, making it a suitable model for predicting the performance of trees facing global climate change. N. pumilio forests are increasingly threatened by extreme climatic events and anthropogenic activities. This study aims to identify priority conservation areas and Genetic Zones (GZs) for N. pumilio, promoting the implementation of specific practices to ensure its management and long-term preservation. Thirty-five populations (965 trees) sampled across its distribution (more than 2200 km latitudinally) were genotyped with SSRs, and geographical patterns of genetic variation were identified using Bayesian approaches. The phylogeographic patterns of the species and geomorphological history of the region were also considered. Six priority conservation areas were identified, which hold high allelic richness and/or exclusive allelic variants. Eighteen GZs were delineated based on the genetic structure of this species, and maps showing their distributional range were drawn up. Overall, this study defines management units based on genetic data for N. pumilio for the first time, which will facilitate the establishment of sustainable practices and highlight priorities for investment of conservation funding.

Physiological analysis and transcriptome sequencing reveal the effects of drier air humidity stress on Pterocarya stenoptera.

Identifying physiological and transcriptomic changes can provide insights into the effects of drier air humidity stress on plants. In this study, we selected 6-month-old seedlings of Pterocarya stenoptera as study materials and used physiological index detection and transcriptome sequencing to investigate the adaptation mechanism of P. stenoptera in response to drier air humidity stress. Proline content, and superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities did not increase significantly under drier air humidity stress. The physiological results showed that the drier air humidity stress only had slight effects on P. stenoptera. However, transcriptome sequencing showed that P. stenoptera initiated a series of metabolic pathways including L-phenylalanine catabolic process, NAD biosynthetic process, ATP biosynthetic process, and thiamine metabolism under drier air humidity stress. The enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes results at 2 and 4 weeks under the drier air humidity stress showed that the genes THI1 and THIC in thiamine metabolism exhibited significantly differential expression. Previous studies confirmed that the two genes can improve drought tolerance. Our results implicitly indicated that exogenous thiamine might improve drought tolerance and alleviate the yellowing of the P. stenoptera leaves. Our study provides insights into the adaptation mechanism of P. stenoptera in response to drier air humidity stress and important clues into the cultivation and management of P. stenoptera in northern cities in China.

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Litter plays an important role in ecosystems. To compare the diversity and community structure of microorganisms inside and outside litter, Casuarina equisetifolia were selected from three forests in Guilin coastal area of Haikou City, Hainan Province. Illumina Miseq high-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the diversity and composition of epiphytic and endophytic bacteria of litter. The results showed that the diversity of epiphytic bacteria was higher than that of endophytic bacteria. Moreover, the diversity and richness of bacteria inside and outside C. equisetifolia litter in the intermediate-aged forest were the highest, followed by young forest and mature forest. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were the most abundant at the phylum level, accounting for about 80% of the total. At the genus level, Curtobacterium, Jatrophihabitans, Mycobacterium, Actinomycetospora, Mucilaginibacter and Pseudomonas showed significant variation among different forest ages. PCoA results showed that the endophytic bacteria of litter were greatly affected by forest age, while the epiphytic bacteria were greatly affected by environmental factors. The fermentation broth of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens had the strongest allelopathic potential to C. equisetifolia seeds and 2,2'-methylenebis (6-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenol) was found in it, indicating that B. amyloliquefaciens was involved in the synthesis of allelochemicals. The diversity of litter microbial community affected the allelopathy of C. equisetifolia, which laid a foundation for studying the role of microorganisms in the degradation process of C. equisetifolia litter.

Structural variability and niche differentiation of the rhizosphere and endosphere fungal microbiome of Casuarina equisetifolia at different ages.

BACKGROUND: Casuarina equisetifolia is one of the most important artificially planted protective forests along the coast in southern China for windbreaks, soil erosion, and sand dune stabilization. Self-renewing of C. equisetifolia is very limited, which might be caused by low soil nutrient levels and reduced microbial activity. METHODS: Use of high-throughput sequencing of the 18S rDNA to investigate the microbial communities from the rhizosphere and root endosphere of C. equisetifolia in young-aged, intermediate-aged, and mature-aged forests. RESULTS: Our results indicate that the diversity of rhizosphere fungal microbiomes in field-grown C. equisetifolia is much lower than that of the endosphere microbiomes. Bioinformatic analysis showed that rhizocompartments produce the strongest differentiation of rhizosphere and endosphere communities. Notably, the distribution of rhizosphere fungi communities was significantly influenced by the environmental factors, not by forest ages. CONCLUSIONS: The presented study suggests that the rhizocompartments and environmental factors, rather than forest ages, determine the diversities of fungal community.