Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores

Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores

Plants present a rich source of nutrients for many organisms, making it a target for herbivores and infectious agents. Plants, though lacking a proper immune system, have developed an array of constitutive and inducible defenses to fend off these attacks.

Microbe-Plant Interactions

Microbe-Plant Interactions

Microbe-plant interactions represent a dynamic spectrum of associations shaped by intricate chemical signaling. These interactions can be neutral, beneficial, or detrimental, and profoundly influence plant physiology, growth, and ecosystem function. The plant microbiome, comprising bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, and viruses, plays a pivotal role in mediating these effects through surface colonization, internal colonization, or systemic symbiosis.Mutualistic associations, particularly with...

Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores

Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores

Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the biosynthesis of the...

Responses to Drought and Flooding

Responses to Drought and Flooding

Water plays a significant role in the life cycle of plants. However, insufficient or excess of water can be detrimental and pose a serious threat to plants.

Microbial Interactions: Cooperation

Microbial Interactions: Cooperation

Microbial cooperation involves beneficial interactions in which different species work together for individual or mutual advantage. These interactions can profoundly influence ecological dynamics and evolutionary processes, and they are essential to many pathogenic and symbiotic relationships.Nematode–Bacteria CooperationA striking example is the relationship between the Gram-negative bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila and the parasitic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae. Juvenile nematodes...

The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition

The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition

Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Higher-order interactions enhance the latitudinal tree diversity gradient.

Nature·2026

Same author

Continental Contrasts in Climate Extremes That Control Tree Fecundity.

Global change biology·2026

Same author

Hidden decay of live trees in a tropical rain forest.

Ecology·2025

Same author

Incorporating microbiomes into the One Health Joint Plan of Action.

mBio·2025

Same author

Microbial dispersal into surface soil is limited on a meter scale.

The ISME journal·2025

Same author

A phylogenetic epidemiology approach to predicting the establishment of multi-host plant pests.

Communications biology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Bacterial Leaf Infiltration Assay for Fine Characterization of Plant Defense Responses using the Arabidopsis thaliana-Pseudomonas syringae Pathosystem

Bacterial Leaf Infiltration Assay for Fine Characterization of Plant Defense Responses using the Arabidopsis thaliana-Pseudomonas syringae Pathosystem

Published on: October 1, 2015

Pathogens promote plant diversity through a compensatory response.

Devon J Bradley¹, Gregory S Gilbert, Jennifer B H Martiny

¹Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, 80 Waterman Street, Box G-W, Providence, RI 02912, USA. djbradle@uci.edu

Ecology Letters

|March 4, 2008

Summary

Pathogens can maintain plant diversity by boosting rare species

More Related Videos

Inoculation Strategies to Infect Plant Roots with Soil-Borne Microorganisms

Inoculation Strategies to Infect Plant Roots with Soil-Borne Microorganisms

Published on: March 1, 2022

Assay for Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern (PAMP)-Triggered Immunity (PTI) in Plants

Assay for Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern (PAMP)-Triggered Immunity (PTI) in Plants

Published on: September 9, 2009

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Bacterial Leaf Infiltration Assay for Fine Characterization of Plant Defense Responses using the Arabidopsis thaliana-Pseudomonas syringae Pathosystem

Bacterial Leaf Infiltration Assay for Fine Characterization of Plant Defense Responses using the Arabidopsis thaliana-Pseudomonas syringae Pathosystem

Published on: October 1, 2015

Inoculation Strategies to Infect Plant Roots with Soil-Borne Microorganisms

Inoculation Strategies to Infect Plant Roots with Soil-Borne Microorganisms

Published on: March 1, 2022

Assay for Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern (PAMP)-Triggered Immunity (PTI) in Plants

Assay for Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern (PAMP)-Triggered Immunity (PTI) in Plants

Published on: September 9, 2009

Area of Science:

Ecology
Plant Pathology
Community Ecology

Background:

Pathogens are hypothesized to enhance plant diversity by inhibiting competitive exclusion.
Prior research often examines single-pathogen, single-host interactions, overlooking complex multi-pathogen, multi-host dynamics.
Interactions among multiple pathogens can lead to non-additive effects on plant community structure.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of multiple pathogens on plant community diversity.
To explore the mechanisms by which pathogens influence plant diversity.
To compare the role of pathogens versus nutrient heterogeneity in maintaining plant diversity.

Main Methods:

A four-species plant community was subjected to bacterial and fungal pathogens over five generations.
Plant diversity was monitored under single and combined pathogen treatments.
Mechanisms of diversity maintenance, including compensatory responses in rare species, were analyzed.

Main Results:

Both bacterial and fungal pathogens individually maintained plant community diversity.
Interactions between the two pathogens reduced plant diversity compared to the fungal pathogen alone.
Pathogens maintained diversity not by harming dominant species, but by inducing compensatory seed production in rare species.

Conclusions:

Pathogen interactions can modulate their effect on plant diversity.
Compensatory responses in rare plant species are a key mechanism for pathogen-mediated diversity maintenance.
Pathogens exert a stronger influence on plant diversity than nutrient heterogeneity, highlighting their ecological significance.