title: Molecular characterization of endophytic fungi associated with the roots ofChenopodium quinoainhabiting the Atacama Desert, Chile.
abstract: Plant roots can be highly colonized by fungal endophytes. This seems to be of particular importance for the survival of plants inhabiting stressful habitats. This study focused on the Identification of the fungal endophytic community associated with the roots of quinoa plants (Chenopodium quinoa) growing near the salt lakes of the Atacama Desert, Chile. One hundred endophytic fungi were isolated from healthy quinoa roots, and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was sequenced for phylogenetic and taxonomic analysis. The isolates were classified into eleven genera and 21 distinct operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Despite a relatively high diversity of root endophytic fungi associated with quinoa plants, the fungal community was dominated by only theAscomycotaphyla. In addition, the most abundant genera werePenicillium,PhomaandFusarium, which are common endophytes reported in plant roots. This study shows that roots ofC.quinoaharbor a diverse group of endophytic fungi. Potential roles of these fungi in plant host tolerance to stressful conditions are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, Casilla 554, La Serena, Chile.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Teuber
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, Casilla 554, La Serena, Chile.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vilo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Casilla 599, La Serena, Chile.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bascuñán-Godoy
keywords: Atacama Desert; Fungal endophytes; Internal transcribed spacer; Phylogenetic analysis; Quinoa