Diversity and tissue-specific distribution of endophytic fungi in wild hop (Humulus lupulus) from central Italy

Endophytic fungi are integral components of plant microbiomes, contributing to host health, stress tolerance, and secondary metabolite production. While these communities have been extensively studied in several plant species, knowledge of fungal endophytes in Humulus lupulus (hop) remains limited, with previous research largely restricted to culture-dependent approaches or rhizosphere analyses. Here, we present the first metabarcoding-based assessment of fungal endophyte communities across multiple organs of wild H. lupulus plants sampled in Central Italy, using high-throughput sequencing of the ITS2 region. Our results reveal that fungal communities differed significantly in composition and diversity across plant organs, showing pronounced tissue-specificity and a limited shared core mycobiome. These findings advance our understanding of hop-associated fungal endophytes and provide a baseline for investigating their ecological roles and potential applications in sustainable agriculture and biotechnology.