Data from: Differentiation of the foliar microbiomes from co-occurring grass species reflects their recency of invasion

These microbiome data and analyses are part of a DNA amplicon sequencing project performed by USDA-ARS scientists at the Foreign-Disease Weed Science Research Unit in Frederick, Maryland. The data characterize foliar endophytic microbiomes from two invasive grass species that co-occur in the same Mid-Atlantic forest environments. One is a recently introduced invasive weed (Oplismenus undulatifolius), and the other a species that has been established for over 100 years (Microstegium vimineum).The data contained here are derived from individual plant leaves collected at two locations in Maryland, USA in September 2023. The sampling locations were 90 km apart but both fell within riparian, deciduous hardwood forests. Replicated observational plots (4 or 5) at each site were separated by 10m. These sampling plots were 1m2 and arranged to capture overlapping Oplismenus and Microstegium infestations. In all plots, each invasive grass provided approximately 50% groundcover and other plant species accounted for