Diversity and taxonomy of endophytic xylariaceous fungi from medicinal plants of Dendrobium (Orchidaceae)

PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e58268. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058268. Epub 2013 Mar 5.

Abstract

Dendrobium spp. are traditional Chinese medicinal plants, and the main effective ingredients (polysaccharides and alkaloids) have pharmacologic effects on gastritis infection, cancer, and anti-aging. Previously, we confirmed endophytic xylariaceous fungi as the dominant fungi in several Dendrobium species of tropical regions from China. In the present study, the diversity, taxonomy, and distribution of culturable endophytic xylariaceous fungi associated with seven medicinal species of Dendrobium (Orchidaceae) were investigated. Among the 961 endophytes newly isolated, 217 xylariaceous fungi (morphotaxa) were identified using morphological and molecular methods. The phylogenetic tree constructed using nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit of ribosomal DNA (LSU), and beta-tubulin sequences divided these anamorphic xylariaceous isolates into at least 18 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The diversity of the endophytic xylariaceous fungi in these seven Dendrobium species was estimated using Shannon and evenness indices, with the results indicating that the dominant Xylariaceae taxa in each Dendrobium species were greatly different, though common xylariaceous fungi were found in several Dendrobium species. These findings implied that different host plants in the same habitats exhibit a preference and selectivity for their fungal partners. Using culture-dependent approaches, these xylariaceous isolates may be important sources for the future screening of new natural products and drug discovery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biodiversity
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / genetics
  • Dendrobium / microbiology*
  • Endophytes / classification*
  • Endophytes / genetics
  • Fungi / classification*
  • Fungi / genetics
  • Phylogeny*
  • Ribosome Subunits, Large, Eukaryotic / genetics
  • Species Specificity
  • Tubulin / genetics

Substances

  • DNA, Fungal
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer
  • Tubulin

Grants and funding

This investigation was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (30900004 and 31070300). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.