New insights into endophytic fungi diversity and their potential correlation with polyphyllin levels of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis

Endophytes confer fitness advantages to host plants. However, the ecological communities of endophytic fungi in the different tissues (rhizomes, stems, and leaves) of Paris polyphylla and the relationship of their endophytic fungi with polyphyllin levels remain unclear. In this study, the community diversity and differences of endophytic fungi in the rhizomes, stems, and leaves of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis were investigated, and a comprehensively diverse community of endophytic fungi was represented, including 50 genera, 44 families, 30 orders, 12 classes, and 5 phyla. Distributions of endophytic fungi differed greatly across the three tissues, with six genera common to all tissues, and 11, 5, and 4 genera specific to the rhizomes, stems, and leaves, respectively. Seven genera showed a significantly positive correlation to polyphyllin contents, indicating their potential roles in polyphyllin accumulation. This study provides valuable information for further research of the ecological and biological functions of endophytic fungi of P. polyphylla.