FunLeaf: A global dataset of foliar fungi

Dataset description Here, we present FunLeaf, the first global dataset on leaf-associated fungi compiled from long-read metabarcoding of the full ITS (internal transcribed spacer) region. FunLeaf contains fungal OTU (operational taxonomic unit) counts for 6,742 foliar samples collected from 920 sampling sites across 92 countries, along with the associated metadata (e.g. coordinates, habitat type, plant identity, and leaf traits). FunLeaf represents a broad range of habitats, covering 228 ecoregions and all ecological biomes. In total, FunLeaf encompass 852 plant genera and 245 plant families. Utilising specialised primers that reduce plant DNA amplification, along with long-read sequencing, we provide a broad taxonomic coverage and high-resolution identification of leaf-associated fungi. The dataset includes 117,693 fungal OTUs with approximately 24 million reads. FunLeaf is published as a valuable resource for advancing research on the diversity, distribution, host-specificity, and biogeographical patterns of leaf-associated fungi across ecological, taxonomical and environmental gradients. Description of FunLeaf dataset files Dataset ID Format Content Description FunLeaf Dataset 1 .xlsx Sampling plot metadata Table containing sampling plot information, including plot ID, coordinates, collection date, habitat classifications, biome, ecoregion, realm, country, and sample counts for each plot. FunLeaf Dataset 2 .xlsx Sample metadata This dataset includes information such as sample ID, corresponding plot ID, plant identity, plant taxonomic classification, plant identification method, and measured leaf characteristics for each leaf sample. FunLeaf Dataset 3 .tsv.zip Fungal OTU table Read-count table of fungal OTUs per sample. OTUs as rows and samples as columns. FunLeaf Dataset 4 .xlsx Fungal taxonomy table Taxonomic assignments for fungal OTUs. FunLeaf Dataset 5 .fasta.gz Fungal OTU sequences Representative sequences for fungal OTUs. FunLeaf Dataset 6 .tsv.zip Non-fungal OTU table Read-count table of non-fungal OTUs per sample. OTUs as rows and samples as columns. FunLeaf Dataset 7 .xlsx Non-fungal taxonomy table Taxonomic assignments for non-fungal OTUs. FunLeaf Dataset 8 .fasta.gz Non-fungal OTU sequences Representative sequences for non-fungal OTUs. A list of collaborators is provided in the "Contributors.xlsx" file. Data reuse information Following Hug et al. (2025), we provide Data Reuse Information (DRI) identifying creators who prefer to be contacted before reuse of this dataset. DRI: {"0000-0003-0616-5829", "0000-0002-1635-1249"} We encourage prospective users to contact [Niloufar Hagh-Doust, [e-mail]; [e-mail] ot Leho Tedersoo, [e-mail]] before reusing the data to discuss their interpretation and potential collaboration. This is a voluntary request and does not impose additional restrictions beyond the CC BY 4.0 licence. Reference: Hug, L. A. et al. (2025). A roadmap for equitable reuse of public microbiome data. Nature Microbiology, 10, 2384–2395. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-025-02116-2