The effects of Erysiphe quercicola inoculation on the phyllosphere
microbiome of Heveae brasiliensis in Hainan Province, China
Abstract
Rubber tree powdery mildew, a major fungal leaf disease of Heveae
brasiliensis trees caused by obligate parasitic fungi (Erysiphe
quercicola), is among the most important diseases affecting rubber
planting areas worldwide. Phyllosphere microbiomes are currently a new
research hotspot in molecular ecology, and their biological community is
extremely rich. This study used high-throughput sequencing and other
molecular techniques to analyze the structure and diversity of dominant
fungi and bacteria in the communities of rubber tree leaves (N=16) in
four representative rubber-producing regions in Hainan Province, China,
after the occurrence of white powder disease. The sampled area had high
species richness and stable biodiversity. This study mainly focused on
(i) the dominant bacterial and fungal phyla and genera of the sampled
regions; (ii) differences in the phyllosphere microbial community
structure and relative abundance between healthy leaves and powdery
mildew Level 3-diseased leaves within the same region; and (iii)
differences in the phyllosphere microbial community structure and
relative abundance between healthy leaves and diseased leaves, as well
as their correlations with environmental factors, in different regions.
This work is innovative in three respects: (i) distinguishing the
dominant populations of phyllosphere microbes for rubber trees with
powdery mildew via high-throughput detection technology to determine the
impact of powdery mildew on these microbes; (ii) exploring the effects
of pathogenic bacteria on phyllosphere microbes and hosts from a
relatively macro perspective; and (iii) investigating the effects on
phyllosphere microbial communities before and after the infection of
obligatory parasite leaf pathogenic bacteria. This project is among the
first conducted in China’s representative rubber-producing areas to
study Erysiphe’s influence on rubber tree leaf microorganisms. These
findings provide data support to better understand the biological
evolution of powdery mildew diseases and establish new strategies for
their ecological control in rubber tree plantations.