Fungal microbial communities in aspen leaves following drought
This study examines how drought history shapes foliar fungal communities and defensive chemistry in quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides). Clonal genotypes were grown under repeated summer drought treatments in a multi-year common garden experiment (2021 to 2023). Leaf samples collected in 2022 and 2023 were analyzed using ITS amplicon sequencing to characterize fungal communities and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) to quantify salicinoid phenolic glycosides and condensed tannins.The objective is to determine whether drought leaves lasting effects on aspen leaf chemistry and fungal colonization. By linking variation in specialized metabolites with foliar microbial composition, the study tests how past drought influences biotic interactions and the potential for trait-mediated resilience following climate-driven stress.