Study On The Diversity Of Endolichenic Fungi Harbored In Melanlixia Glabra From Different Areas

Lichen is considered as a symbiotic organism composed by mycobiont and photobiont. Lichens are significant component of global ecosystem and distribute all over the world. Endolichenic fungi are fungi harbor in lichen thalli without causing visible damage to their hosts. Endolichenic fungi have rich species diversity and potential economic value as well.The study on the diversity of endolichenic fungi harbored in Melanlixia glabra and Melanohalea septentrionalis from different areas was performed by both culture method and high-throughput sequencing technology. 555 strains of endolichenic fungi were isolated from 150 Melanlixia glabra samples, the colonization rate was 25.43%.608217 high quality sequences were obtained by high-throughput sequencing, 34.3%of which were endolichenic fungi sequences .After comparing the analytical results of endolichenic fungi community obtained by two methods, high-throughput sequencing technology showed great advantage on the diversity study of endolichenic fungi.The results of these analysis showed: 1) Geographical factor was the main influence factor of the community diversity of endolichenic fungi, host factor also influenced the endolichenic fungi communities. 2) The species diversity and richeness of the endolichenic fungi from Melanlixia glabra were higher than which from Melanohalea septentrionalis 3) Ascomycota, Dothideomycetes and Pleosporales fungi were the main groups on each taxonomic category. The species composition were similar bewteen each endolichenic fungi communities, while the species richness were significantly different 4) The fungi OTUs obtained by culture method were much less high-throughput sequencing method and most of them were known species.5) Elaphocordyceps and lichenized fungi were found wide harbored in Melanlixia glabra and Melanohalea septentrionalis, which indicated some endolichenic fungi were not beneficial to their hosts.It is the first time to compare the community diversity of endolichenic fungi obtain by culture method and high-throughput sequencing technology. It's also the first time to analysis the diversity, the influence factors of community composition and host specificity of endolichenic fungi from different areas comprehensively. This study will improve knowledge of endolichenic fungi and provide reference to exploit this valuable resource.