最近的研究主要集中在珊瑚微生物组中的细菌多样性,把与珊瑚有关的真菌留在科学研究的阴影中.这项研究试图通过深入研究生物多样性来填补这一知识空白,与软珊瑚Cladiellakrempfi和Sarcophytontortuosum相关的真菌的分布和功能差异,来自南中国海的gorgonian珊瑚Dichotellagemmacea和石珊瑚Faviaspeciosa。利用rRNA基因的真菌内部转录间隔区1(ITS1)区域的高通量测序,本研究共鉴定出431种真菌扩增子序列变异体(ASV),这表明南中国海珊瑚中藏有大量的真菌群落。值得注意的是,在珊瑚中首次报道了10个真菌属,与Candolleomyces,Exophiala,Fomitopsis,Inaequalispora,Kneiffiella,Paraphaeosphaeria,Yamadazyma属于子囊,和芽孢杆菌,Psathyrella,和担子菌的Solicoccozma。此外,不同种类珊瑚间真菌群落差异显著(p<0.05)。特别是,gorgonian珊瑚D.gemmacea成为真菌多样性的天堂,拥有307个独特的ASV。相反,软珊瑚S.tortuosum和C.krempfi表现出适度的真菌多样性,拥有36和21个独特的ASV,分别,虽然石珊瑚F.speciosa有一个相对稀疏的真菌群落,总共只有10个独特的ASV。这些发现不仅提供了有关南海珊瑚真菌多样性和功能的基础数据,但也强调了全球珊瑚礁生态系统的细微差别保护和管理策略的必要性。
Recent studies have predominantly spotlighted bacterial diversity within coral microbiomes, leaving coral-associated fungi in the shadows of scientific inquiry. This study endeavors to fill this knowledge gap by delving into the biodiversity, distribution and functional differences of fungi associated with soft corals Cladiella krempfi and Sarcophyton tortuosum, gorgonian coral Dichotella gemmacea and stony coral Favia speciosa from the South China Sea. Leveraging high-throughput sequencing of fungal internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS1) region of the rRNA gene, a total of 431 fungal amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were identified in this study, which indicated that a large number of fungal communities were harbored in the South China Sea corals. Noteworthy among our findings is that 10 fungal genera are reported for the first time in corals, with Candolleomyces, Exophiala, Fomitopsis, Inaequalispora, Kneiffiella, Paraphaeosphaeria, and Yamadazyma belonging to the Ascomycota, and Cystobasidium, Psathyrella, and Solicoccozyma to the Basidiomycota. Moreover, significant differences (p < 0.05) of fungal communities were observed among the various coral species. In particular, the gorgonian coral D. gemmacea emerged as a veritable haven for fungal diversity, boasting 307 unique ASVs. Contrastingly, soft corals S. tortuosum and C. krempfi exhibited modest fungal diversity, with 36 and 21 unique ASVs, respectively, while the stony coral F. speciosa hosted a comparatively sparse fungal community, with merely 10 unique ASVs in total. These findings not only provide basic data on fungal diversity and function in the South China Sea corals, but also underscore the imperative of nuanced conservation and management strategies for coral reef ecosystems worldwide.