Fungal communities driven by Rhododendron species correlate with pathogen protection

Plant interactions with soil microbial communities are critical for understanding plant health, improving horticultural and agricultural outcomes, and maintaining diverse natural communities. In some cases, disease suppressive soils enhance plant survival in the presence of pathogens. However, species-specific differences and seasonal variation complicate our understanding of the drivers of soil fungal communities and their consequences for plants. Here, we aim to describe soil fungal communities across Rhododendron species and seasons and test for fungal indicators of species and seasons in the soil.