Characterizing the functional transition of endophytic fungi during plant senescence
EMSL Project ID
49781
Abstract
Decomposition of leaf litter by a diverse microbial community is a major biogeochemical process in the global carbon cycle. Fungi are considered the primary decomposers of plant litter, especially of highly recalcitrant lignocellulose matrices that make up the majority of cellulose in leaves. Many specialized fungal saprophytes are found outside of plants and colonize leaves after leaf senescence, but a growing body of literature suggests that fungi found within healthy leaves - foliar fungal endophytes - prior to leaf senescence are also decomposers and may be "pioneers" that have priority effects on the subsequent microbial community in the litter. In particular, the metabolomic activity of host-specific obligate endophytic fungi during litter senescence is an unexplored stage of rapid colonization and conversion of plant tissue matter for fruiting body development that could significantly impact overall rates of decomposition. In the proposed work, we will use newly designed fluorescence in situ hybridization probes coupled with mRNA in situ hybridization probes of key lignocellulose degrading enzymes to localize and characterize the enzymatic activity in situ by a model fungal endophyte - Lophodermium nitens - during three stages of fruiting body development in senescing pine needles. The three stages will be prepared to demonstrate the temporal and spatial dynamics of physiological and metabolic change by the fungal endophyte as well as the structural and chemical changes of the surrounding host plant cells during early stages of leaf senescence. These changes will be observed for the first time in situ using high-resolution fluorescence microscopy and analyzed with sequencing of whole transcriptomes. This study will also be the first to systematically investigate the functional role of a widespread and cryptic fungal symbiont with multiple cutting-edge resources. The results could transform the current paradigm of microbial community succession and function in litter and serve to explain a linkage between species diversity and major ecosystem processes, such as carbon cycling.
Project Details
Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
Start Date
2017-10-01
End Date
2018-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Co-Investigator(s)