title: Atractiella rhizophila, sp. nov., an endorrhizal fungus isolated from the Populus root microbiome.
abstract: Among fungi isolated from healthy root mycobiomes of Populus, we discovered a new endorrhizal fungal species belonging to the rust lineage Pucciniomycotina, described here as Atractiella rhizophila. We characterized this species by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), phylogenetic analysis, and plant bioassay experiments. Phylogenetic sequence analysis of isolates and available environmental and reference sequences indicates that this new species, A. rhizophila, has a broad geographic and host range. Atractiella rhizophila appears to be present in North America, Australia, Asia, and Africa and is associated with trees, orchids, and other agriculturally important species, including soybean, corn, and rice. Despite the large geographic and host range of this species sampling, A. rhizophila appears to have exceptionally low sequence variation within nuclear rDNA markers examined. With inoculation studies, we demonstrate that A. rhizophila is nonpathogenic, asymptomatically colonizes plant roots, and appears to foster plant growth and elevated photosynthesis rates.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Plant Soil and Microbial Sciences , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bonito
authors.affiliation: b Biology Department , Duke University , Durham , North Carolina 27708.
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hameed
authors.affiliation: c Department of Plant Pathology , Ministry for Primary Industries , Auckland 1140 , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Merje
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toome-Heller
authors.affiliation: d Botany and Plant Pathology , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida 32611.
authors.forename: Rosanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.affiliation: b Biology Department , Duke University , Durham , North Carolina 27708.
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: d Botany and Plant Pathology , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida 32611.
authors.forename: Hui-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: e Botany and Plant Pathology , Purdue University , West Lafayette , Indiana 47907.
authors.forename: M Catherine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Aime
authors.affiliation: f Environmental Sciences Division , Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge , Tennessee 37831.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schadt
authors.affiliation: b Biology Department , Duke University , Durham , North Carolina 27708.
authors.forename: Rytas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vilgalys
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D001208:Asia; D001315:Australia; D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D060026:Endophytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009656:North America; D058974:Phylogeography; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology*; D032107:Populus / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer
keywords: Basidiomycete; plant microbiome; root endophyte; sterile mycelium