Analysis of endophyte diversity of among different tissue types and ages and their association with four medicinal secondary metabolites.

BACKGROUND

The difference of metabolites in medicinal plants has always been concerned to be influenced by external environmental factors. However, the relationship between endophytes and host metabolites remains unclear.

METHODS

In this study, we used 16S and ITS amplicon sequencing to compare endophyte diversity among different tissue types and ages of . Endophyte diversity and abundance was also analyzed in relation to the abundance of four secondary metabolites (Gentiopicroside, Loganic acid, Swertiamarine and Sweroside).

RESULTS

The diversity and richness of endophyte differed as a function of tissue types and ages. Four metabolites of were significantly correlated with the abundance of dominant endophyte genera. The predictive function analysis showed that metabolism was main function of endophytic bacteria in different tissue and year root samples, while saprotroph was dominant trophic modes of endophytic fungi in the different year root samples. The dominant trophic modes of endophytic fungi was saprotroph and pathotroph, and relative abundances differed in the different tissue samples. The results of this study will help to elucidate the plant-microbial interactions and provide key information on the role of endophytes in the production of and its important metabolites.