Fungal ITS2 data from Pyroleae and Monotropa hypopitys germination study

Dataset type

This dataset that contains primary occurrence data for species.

Description

This dataset contains ITS metabarcoding data describing fungal communities associated with germinating seeds and early developmental stages of Pyroleae species and Monotropa hypopitys in Sweden. The data were generated using high-throughput sequencing of the ITS2 region to characterize ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity and its relationship to plant development and ecological conditions.DescriptionThe dataset originates from a field-based seed sowing experiment designed to investigate fungal associations during early ontogeny of mycoheterotrophic and partially mycoheterotrophic plants (Johansson et al. 2017). Seed bags were deployed across multiple forest sites and retrieved over multiple years to assess germination, seedling development, and associated fungal communities. DNA was extracted from germinated seedlings and analyzed using ITS metabarcoding of the ITS2 region. The resulting dataset includes operational taxonomic units (OTUs), taxonomic assignments, and sequence read abundances, providing a detailed characterization of fungal diversity associated with early plant life stages.PurposeThe purpose of this dataset is to document the diversity and composition of fungal communities associated with early developmental stages of selected plant species and to support research on plant-fungal interactions, mycoheterotrophy, and forest ecosystem processes, building on the findings presented in Johansson et al. 2017, Mol Ecol, 26: 2591-2604. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.14050

This dataset was published via the SBDI ASV portal.

Geographic Description

Sampling was conducted on the island of Öland, Sweden, across multiple forest sites including coniferous and mixed forests.

Purpose

The purpose of this dataset is to characterize the diversity and composition of fungal communities associated with germinating seeds and early seedling development of selected plant species. The dataset supports analyses of host specificity, ontogenetic shifts in fungal associations, and the ecological processes underlying mycoheterotrophy. It also contributes DNA-derived biodiversity data to support broader research on forest ecosystems, species interactions, and biodiversity patterns.

Data quality

Sequence data were subjected to multiple quality control steps to ensure reliability. Raw reads were filtered to remove low-quality sequences, chimeric sequences, and singletons. Only sequences passing quality thresholds were retained for further analysis. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were clustered at a 97 percent sequence similarity threshold. Taxonomic assignments were performed using reference databases, and assignments were accepted based on sequence similarity criteria. Negative controlsitem-0 were included during laboratory procedures to detect contamination, and non-target sequences were excluded from analyses where appropriate (Johansson et al. 2017).

Re-annotation against UNITE database took place before publication of this dataset (2026-03-30).

Methods

DNA was extracted from germinated seedlings using a soil DNA extraction protocol. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified using PCR with primers targeting fungal ITS regions. Amplicons were normalized, pooled, and sequenced using 454 pyrosequencing technology.

Sequence data were processed using bioinformatics pipelines that included demultiplexing, trimming, and clustering into OTUs. Representative sequences for each OTU were compared against reference databases (including UNITE and INSDC) for taxonomic identification. OTUs were assigned to taxonomic levels based on sequence similarity thresholds, and fungal taxa of interest, particularly ectomycorrhizal groups, were identified for further ecological analysis.

Type of content

Includes: Point occurrence data.

Citation

Johansson V (2026). Fungal ITS2 data from Pyroleae and Monotropa hypopitys germination study. Version 1.1. Stockholm University. Occurrence dataset. https://www.gbif.se/ipt/resource?r=pyrola-its2-2011-2012&v=1.1

Rights

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY 4.0) License.

Digitised records

Metadata last updated on 2026-04-07 09:30:01.0