Endophyte Diversity Mediates Leaf Optical Properties

摘要

A single tropical plant species can harbour hundreds of endophyte species within its tissues. Otherwise, little is known about the relationship between endophyte colonization, leaf traits, and spectral properties of leaves. We explore those relationships on Coccoloba cereifera, a plant well known for its symbiotic properties. Endophyte richness in C. cereifera was statistically correlated with leaf traits such as water content, the ratio of fresh weight/dry weight, and polyphenol/leaf specific weight Endophyte diversity was also related to spectral vegetation indices of chlorophyll content The association between endophyte diversity, leaf traits and spectral reflectance pose new questions about our understanding of plant-fungal symbioses and related leaf optical properties.