Root Fungal Endophyte Communities Differ Among Plant Functional Groups in an Alpine Meadow

Disparities in root fungal endophyte (RFE) communities are well documented among plant species, yet differences among plant functional groups (PFGs) remain unclear. Given that RFE community structure is influenced by host plant abundance and species-specific root functional traits, and that PFGs exhibit divergent relative abundances and root traits, we hypothesize that PFGs harbor unique RFE communities, potentially aligned with their functional traits. We investigated RFE communities in 45 alpine meadow species representing four PFGs (grasses, legumes, dicot forbs, and monocot forbs), using high-throughput sequencing. Ascomycota dominated all groups (>50%) except monocot forbs (38.9%). Distinct differences in the RFE community species composition were found among PFGs. In particular, the differences were significant between dicot forbs and monocot forbs, and between monocot forbs and grasses, which contradicted with conventional PFG classification that combined monocot and dicot forbs as a single PFG. Moreover, marker operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with symbiotic lifestyles were more abundant in legumes, and their functional composition differed significantly from grasses. Roots’ nitrogen concentration was the strongest predictor of RFE variation, followed by root length, biomass, and species abundance. These results emphasize the importance of integrating microbial partners into understanding plants’ functional diversity and ecosystem resilience in alpine environments.