title: Fungal endophyte diversity in Sarracenia.
abstract: Fungal endophytes were isolated from 4 species of the carnivorous pitcher plant genus Sarracenia: S. minor, S. oreophila, S. purpurea, and S. psittacina. Twelve taxa of fungi, 8 within the Ascomycota and 4 within the Basidiomycota, were identified based on PCR amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS rDNA) with taxonomic identity assigned using the NCBI nucleotide megablast search tool. Endophytes are known to produce a large number of metabolites, some of which may contribute to the protection and survival of the host. We speculate that endophyte-infected Sarracenia may benefit from their fungal associates by their influence on nutrient availability from within pitchers and, possibly, by directly influencing the biota within pitchers.
authors.affiliation: Toxicology and Mycotoxin Research Unit, Russell Research Center, United State Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Athens, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Glenn
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bodri
mesh_terms: D001203:Ascomycota / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000235:genetics*; D019295:Computational Biology; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D056727:Endangered Species; D060026:Endophytes / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D052583:Sarraceniaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013045:Species Specificity; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer