Intraspecific and biogeographic variation in foliar fungal communities and pathogen damage of native and invasive Phragmites australis

Aim

Recent research has highlighted that the relationship between species interactions and latitude can differ between native and invasive plant taxa, generating biogeographical heterogeneity in community resistance to plant invasions. In the first study with foliar pathogens, we tested whether co-occurring native and invasive lineages of common reed (Phragmites australis) exhibit nonparallel latitudinal gradients in foliar fungi communities, pathogen susceptibility and damage, and whether these biogeographic patterns can influence invasion success.

Location North America.

Time period 2015-2017.

Major taxa studied Perennial grass Phragmites australis.

Methods We surveyed 35 P. australis field populations, spanning 17° latitude and comprising four phylogeographic lineages, including one endemic to North America and one invasive from Europe. For each population, we quantified percent leaf pathogen damage and cultured fungi from diseased leaves, that we identified using mole...