Related Experiment Videos
Marchantia liverworts as a proxy to plants' basal microbiomes
Luis D Alcaraz1, Mariana Peimbert2, Hugo R Barajas3
1Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, UNAM, 04510, Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico. lalcaraz@ciencias.unam.mx.
Scientific Reports
|August 25, 2018
Summary
This study reveals the core bacterial genera within Marchantia liverwort microbiomes, identifying key players in plant health and development. These findings highlight the transgenerational role of microbiomes in plant adaptation and evolution.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology and microbiology
- Investigating the intricate relationships between plants and their associated microbial communities.
Background:
- Plant microbiomes are crucial for plant health, influencing growth, nutrient uptake, and defense against pathogens.
- Host plants actively select microbes, differentiating between beneficial, neutral, and harmful species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the microbiomes of two Marchantia liverwort species (M. polymorpha and M. paleacea).
- To compare microbial communities in wild-collected plants and their soil with those from in vitro-grown plants.
Main Methods:
- Massive sequencing of 16S rRNA genes was employed to analyze microbial communities.
- Comparison of microbiomes from wild and in vitro-grown Marchantia species and their associated soil substrates.
Main Results:
- Key bacterial genera identified in Marchantia microbiomes include Methylobacterium, Rhizobium, Paenibacillus, Lysobacter, Pirellula, Steroidobacter, and Bryobacter.
- These genera encompass bacteria with plant-growth promoting, nitrogen-fixing, methylotrophic, and disease-suppressive functions.
- Microbes common to both native and in vitro Marchantia species were identified.
Conclusions:
- Marchantia liverworts host a core microbiome with significant functional potential for plant health and development.
- The simple anatomy of Marchantia facilitates hosting these diverse microbial communities.
- Marchantia serves as a valuable model for studying long-term plant-microbe interactions and the transgenerational impact of microbiomes on plant adaptation.