Effects of <italic>Hymenoscyphus fraxineus</italic> on composition and diversity of endophytic fungal communities in <italic>Fraxinus mandshurica</italic>

To clarify the effects of the fruiting bodies of Hymenoscyphusfraxineus on the composition and diversity of the endophytic fungal community in Fraxinus mandshurica, the composition and diversity of endophytic fungal communities in leaves of F. mandshurica from stands with or without H. fraxineus fruiting bodies were investigated and analyzed using isolation and culture methods. The results indicated that in June, before the spore release of H. fraxineus, Cladosporium were dominant fungi in leaves from both of the F. mandshurica stands. However, in September, after the spore release, Daldinia and Diaporthe were dominant fungi in leaves of F. mandshurica from the stand with fruiting bodies, while Preussia were dominant fungi in leaves from the stand without fruiting bodies. Meanwhile, in the stand with fruiting body of H.fraxineus, the richness and Shannon-Wiener’s diversity index of endophytic fungi community in F. mandshurica after spore release were lower than those before spore release. Meanwhile, before spore release, the Shannon-Wiener’s diversity index of the endophytic fungal communities showed no significant differences between leaflets and petioles, while after spore release, significant differences in endophytic fungal community diversity were exhibited between leaflets and petioles. The results can provide a reference for the screening of endophytic antagonistic fungal resources in biological control of ash dieback.