How Weather Affects the Fungi Living Inside Wild Blueberries

Phil Stevens
24th January, 2024

How Weather Affects the Fungi Living Inside Wild Blueberries

Common bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus)

Photo adapted from: Grzegorz Grzejszczak / CC BY SA (Source)
Bilberry, a significant resource in Northern Europe, has long been valued for its nutritional properties[2]. While the benefits of bilberries – stemming from compounds like flavonoids and phenolic acids – have been extensively studied, particularly their antioxidant effects[2][3], less attention has been given to the microscopic world within the fruit itself. Specifically, the fungal communities living inside bilberries, known as endophytes, remain largely unexplored. Researchers at the University of Oulu recently investigated these fungal inhabitants, aiming to understand how environmental factors influence their diversity and distribution[1]. The study focused on bilberry fruits collected from both northern and southern Finland. Endophytes are microorganisms – including fungi – that live inside plants without causing immediate harm. They can play a role in plant health, growth, and even resilience to stress[4]. Understanding these internal communities is crucial, as their composition can vary significantly depending on the environment. To identify the fungi present, the researchers used high-throughput DNA sequencing, a technology that allows for rapid analysis of genetic material. They specifically targeted a region of fungal DNA called the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) to identify different fungal species. The findings revealed a clear difference between the fungal communities in bilberries from the north and south of Finland. Southern bilberries exhibited greater fungal diversity – meaning a wider range of species were present – and more variation in community structure. This ‘beta diversity’ indicates that the fungal communities differed more significantly between different locations in the south compared to the north. Crucially, the weather conditions during the growing season were found to be a major driver of both fungal richness (the number of species) and community structure. Specifically, the abundance of certain fungal genera – Venturia, Cladosporium, and Podosphaera – varied between the northern and southern regions and were linked to weather patterns. These fungi aren’t necessarily harmful to the bilberry plant, but their presence and abundance are sensitive to environmental changes. This aligns with the broader understanding that plant-endophyte interactions are dynamic and influenced by both plant and microbial genetics, as well as environmental conditions[4]. This research builds upon earlier work demonstrating the importance of the plant cuticle – the waxy outer layer of the berry – in protecting against UV light and influencing the berry’s sun protection factor[5]. While that study focused on the surface, this new work delves into the internal environment, revealing another layer of complexity in how bilberries interact with their surroundings. The study also echoes previous findings that berries are rich sources of antioxidants[3], and suggests that the endophytic fungal communities may contribute to the overall health and resilience of the plant, potentially influencing the production of these beneficial compounds. The University of Oulu’s study demonstrates that fungal endophyte communities in bilberry fruits respond to environmental gradients, mirroring patterns observed in fungal communities on leaves. This suggests a common set of ecological principles govern these internal and external microbial ecosystems. The research highlights the importance of considering the entire plant microbiome – the community of microorganisms living in and on the plant – when studying plant health and adaptation.

EnvironmentEcologyPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Weather in two climatic regions shapes the diversity and drives the structure of fungal endophytic community of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) fruit.

Published 22nd January, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-024-00551-y

Related Studies

2) Antioxidant activity and antimicrobial effect of berry phenolics--a Finnish perspective.

Journal: Molecular nutrition & food research, Issue: Vol 51, Issue 6, Jun 2007

3) Berry antioxidants: small fruits providing large benefits.

https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.6432

4) The Hidden World within Plants: Ecological and Evolutionary Considerations for Defining Functioning of Microbial Endophytes.

https://doi.org/10.1128/MMBR.00050-14

5) Compositional and morphological analyses of wax in northern wild berry species.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.05.134


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