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Whole-Genome Duplication and Host Genotype Affect Rhizosphere Microbial Communities
Julian C B Ponsford1, Charley J Hubbard1,2, Joshua G Harrison1
1Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA.
Msystems
|January 11, 2022
Summary
Whole-genome duplication (WGD) in Arabidopsis thaliana alters rhizosphere bacterial communities. These plant microbiome changes, influenced by genetic background and ploidy, impact plant growth and fitness.
Area of Science:
- Plant-microbe interactions
- Genomics
- Microbial ecology
Background:
- Plant microbiomes are shaped by host genetics.
- Whole-genome duplication (WGD) is a common evolutionary event in plants affecting traits.
- The impact of WGD on plant-associated microbial communities is largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of experimentally induced WGD on rhizosphere bacterial communities in Arabidopsis thaliana.
- To determine how host genetic background and ploidy level influence bacterial community composition.
- To assess the impact of these microbiomes on subsequent plant performance.
Main Methods:
- Experimentally induced WGD in Arabidopsis thaliana.
- 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing for bacterial community profiling.
- Hierarchical Bayesian modeling of bacterial taxa relative abundances.
- Inoculation experiments with microbiomes from different ploidy levels and genetic backgrounds.
Main Results:
- Host genetic background and ploidy level significantly affected rhizosphere bacterial community composition.
- An interaction between ploidy level and genetic background influenced community structure.
- Microbiomes associated with tetraploid Columbia plants negatively impacted the growth of all tested plant genetic backgrounds.
Conclusions:
- Host genetic architecture, specifically WGD and genetic background, plays a crucial role in shaping rhizosphere bacterial communities.
- These microbiome alterations can have significant ramifications for plant fitness.
- Ploidy variation is a widespread phenomenon with potential to drive differences in plant microbiomes across diverse plant populations.
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