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Delhomme N, Sundström G, Zamani N, Lantz H, Lin YC, Hvidsten TR, Höppner MP, Jern P, Van de Peer Y, Lundeberg J, Grabherr MG, Street NR
PLoS ONE 10 (9) e0139080 [2015-09-28; online 2015-09-28]
After performing de novo transcript assembly of >1 billion RNA-Sequencing reads obtained from 22 samples of different Norway spruce (Picea abies) tissues that were not surface sterilized, we found that assembled sequences captured a mix of plant, lichen, and fungal transcripts. The latter were likely expressed by endophytic and epiphytic symbionts, indicating that these organisms were present, alive, and metabolically active. Here, we show that these serendipitously sequenced transcripts need not be considered merely as contamination, as is common, but that they provide insight into the plant's phyllosphere. Notably, we could classify these transcripts as originating predominantly from Dothideomycetes and Leotiomycetes species, with functional annotation of gene families indicating active growth and metabolism, with particular regards to glucose intake and processing, as well as gene regulation.
PubMed 26413905
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0139080
Crossref 10.1371/journal.pone.0139080
pii: PONE-D-15-34536
pmc: PMC4586145