Biodiversity of Fungal Endophytes in Rubber Trees: Towards Understanding their Role as Plant Protection Agents

摘要由于真菌多样性的取样和表征很少，对真菌在生态系统中的作用的理解一直受到阻碍。真菌内生菌存在于活的植物组织内，并与植物形成有益或有害的关系。研究表明，有益的内生菌已经进化到保护植物免受疾病的侵害。野生树木的发病率低于人工林树木，内生菌可能在保护树木方面发挥作用。本项目将描述橡胶树（Hevea brasiliensis）内生真菌的特征，以评估其作为植物保护剂的潜在作用。将通过实地考察和实验室工作，对原生森林（秘鲁）和种植园（巴西）树木中的内生菌多样性进行评价。将评估这些内生菌保护植物的能力。疾病限制了美洲橡胶树的产量。许多人担心，这种疾病蔓延到世界各地的种植园可能会产生严重的经济和社会影响。这项研究的结果将揭示新的内生物种和潜在的保护者对橡胶疾病。真菌的研究需要在剩余的森林中进行，否则许多对人类和自然生态系统很重要的物种可能在被发现之前就消失了。该项目还将为霍华德大学的学生提供培训。

AbstractUnderstanding the role of fungi in ecosystems has been hampered by little sampling and characterization of fungal diversity. Fungal endophytes reside inside living plant tissues and form beneficial or harmful relationships with plants. Studies suggest that beneficial endophytes have evolved to protect plants from diseases. Trees in the wild have less disease incidence than trees in plantations, and endophytes may play a role in their protection. This project will characterize fungal endophytes in rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) to evaluate their potential role as plant protectors. Endophyte diversity will be evaluated in trees in native forests (Peru) and plantations (Brazil) through fieldwork and laboratory work. The ability of these endophytes to protect plants will be evaluated. Disease has limited the production of rubber trees in the Americas. Many fear that the spread of this disease to plantations throughout the world could have severe economic and social implications. Findings from this study will uncover new endophytic species and potential protectors against rubber diseases. The study of fungi needs to be undertaken in remaining forests, or many species that are important to humans and natural ecosystems may disappear before they are discovered. This project will also provide training to students at Howard University.