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Uncovering unseen fungal diversity from plant DNA banks

Authors :
Geoffrey Zahn
Anthony S. Amend
Erin M. Datlof
Clifford W. Morden
Kamala Earl
Rachael M. Wade
Nicole A. Hynson
Jeremy Hayward
Source :
PeerJ, Vol 5, p e3730 (2017), PeerJ
Publication Year :
2017
Publisher :
PeerJ, 2017.

Abstract

Throughout the world DNA banks are used as storage repositories for genetic diversity of organisms ranging from plants to insects to mammals. Designed to preserve the genetic information for organisms of interest, these banks also indirectly preserve organisms’ associated microbiomes, including fungi associated with plant tissues. Studies of fungal biodiversity lag far behind those of macroorganisms, such as plants, and estimates of global fungal richness are still widely debated. Utilizing previously collected specimens to study patterns of fungal diversity could significantly increase our understanding of overall patterns of biodiversity from snapshots in time. Here, we investigated the fungi inhabiting the phylloplane among species of the endemic Hawaiian plant genus, Clermontia (Campanulaceae). Utilizing next generation DNA amplicon sequencing, we uncovered approximately 1,780 fungal operational taxonomic units from just 20 DNA bank samples collected throughout the main Hawaiian Islands. Using these historical samples, we tested the macroecological pattern of decreasing community similarity with decreasing geographic proximity. We found a significant distance decay pattern among Clermontia associated fungal communities. This study provides the first insights into elucidating patterns of microbial diversity through the use of DNA bank repository samples.

Details

ISSN :
21678359
Volume :
5
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
PeerJ
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....daaf2a2014a9187496e605fa68d9aaec
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3730