Structure and diversity of endophytic fungal communities in hybrid rice seeds with genetic relatedness and disease resistance

In this investigation, the focus was on exploring the diversity and community composition of endophytic fungi within 13 hybrid rice seeds exhibiting diverse genotypes, genetic affiliations, and resistance levels to rice blast disease. The primary objective was to identify the “core microbiota” and evaluate how genotype, genetic relatedness, and resistance to rice blast influence the endophytic microbiome. Results revealed that Ascomycota consistently dominated at the phylum level across all rice seed samples, with prevalent genera including Aspergillus sp., Pleoseorales_unclassified, and Gibberella sp. Notably, there were no significant differences in endophytic fungi diversity among hybrid rice seeds with varying genetic relationships or blast resistance. However, it was observed that interactions within endophytic fungal communities were more intricate within the same maternal group compared to the same paternal group, and interactions in the disease-resistant group were more complex than in the disease-susceptible group. These findings provide insights into the complex relationship between hybridization and endophytic fungi, emphasizing the importance of further research to understand the interplay between hybridization and endophytic fungi in rice plants.