The endophytic mycobiome of European ash and sycamore leaves

The European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) is an important broadleaved hardwood species in Switzerland and is currently threatened by Ash dieback, a disease caused by the ascomycete fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. This study investigated the interactions of the pathogen with the endophytic mycobiome and possible roles of the flowering Ash (Fraxinus ornus) and sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) as refuge for endophytes. This was done by amplification and Illumina sequencing of the ITS2 region.