Data from: Serendipitous meta-transcriptomics: the fungal community of Norway spruce (Picea abies)

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.