Fungal diversity associated with roots of Epidendrum hybrids

Fungal biodiversity profoundly influences ecosystem dynamics through a spectrum of interactions with plants, from pathogenic to mutually beneficial associations. This study investigates the global fungal diversity associated with hybrid Epidendrum orchids using high-throughput sequencing. The study aimed to (a) evaluate the fungal diversity associated with Epidendrum hybrids across various global locations, as well as within South Africa, and (b) to identify the distinct and shared fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) between these global locations and within South Africa.