Leaf Fungal Endophyte Differs Among Plant Functional Groups in an Alpine Meadow

ABSTRACT Although numerous studies have documented the differences in leaf fungal endophyte (LFE) communities among various plant species inhabiting the same environments, the disparities in LFE among distinct species groups have rarely been examined at the community level. The composition and structure of the LFE community are known to be influenced by the abundance of host plants and the leaf functional traits at the species level. Given that various plant functional groups exhibit differences in relative abundance and leaf functional traits, we hypothesize that these distinct plant functional groups may support unique LFE communities, which are likely correlated with their specific functional demands. In this study, we investigated LFE community across 45 plant species, which were categorized into four functional groups: grasses, legumes, dicot forbs, and monocot forbs from an alpine meadow, utilizing high‐throughput sequencing techniques. We assessed the differences in LFE among the plant functional groups and analyzed these differences in relation to plant abundance and leaf functional traits. The LFE community exhibited significant differences among plant functional groups. The dicot forbs demonstrated a higher richness of LFE compared to the other three functional groups. Ascomycota was found to be the dominant phylum across all plant functional groups. Additionally, marker operational taxonomic units (OTUs) associated with a symbiotic lifestyle were more prevalent in legumes than in the other three functional groups. Leaf mass per area is identified as the primary determinant of variation in LFE community across different plant functional groups, with water content and leaf nitrogen concentration serving as secondary factors. Furthermore, species abundance also plays a significant role in explaining the variation observed in LFE. Our research enhances the understanding of microbial‐plant interactions and indicates a potential role of LFEs in shaping community structure and dynamics.