Ascomycetous Endophytic Fungi Drive Root Fungal Community Assembly in Wheat Under Moderate Drought

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Microbiology
• Plant Science

Background:

• Drought stress significantly impacts wheat yield and development.
• Endophytic fungi are vital for plant growth and drought resistance, with potential as biocontrol agents.
• Mechanisms of endophytic fungal community shifts under drought remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the structural changes in wheat root endophytic fungal communities under drought stress.
• To compare fungal community structure and function across different water treatments.
• To identify key fungal genera associated with drought tolerance in wheat.

Main Methods:

• Amplicon sequencing was used to analyze endophytic fungal communities in wheat roots.
• Different water treatments were applied to simulate drought conditions.
• Co-occurrence network and Sankey diagram analyses were employed to explore community interactions.

Main Results:

• Drought stress significantly altered the endophytic fungal community structure.
• The phylum Ascomycota dominated under drought conditions (86.4% relative abundance).
• Significant increases in relative abundance were observed for Stachybotrys (994.2%), Aspergillus (295.6%), and Fusarium (94.6%).
• A drought-specific fungal community centered around Stachybotrys, Aspergillus, and Fusarium was identified.
• This community was found to indirectly enhance wheat drought tolerance.

Conclusions:

• Drought stress shapes a distinct endophytic fungal community in wheat roots.
• Key genera, including Stachybotrys, Aspergillus, and Fusarium, play a crucial role in drought adaptation.
• Findings offer a basis for agricultural strategies to enhance crop drought resistance via microbial community manipulation.