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Salinity legacy: Foliar microbiome's history affects mutualist-conferred salinity tolerance
Suresh C Subedi1, Preston Allen1, Rosario Vidales2
1Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.
Ecology
|March 18, 2022
Summary
Foliar endophytes enhance red mangrove salt tolerance, but only if they have previously experienced salinity. This microbiome legacy is key for coastal habitat restoration and management in the face of rising sea levels.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Plant-microbe interactions
- Environmental stress biology
Background:
- Human-driven environmental changes cause significant stress to plants and animals.
- Foliar endophytes, microbes within plant leaves, can offer benefits like enhanced stress tolerance.
- The impact of environmental stress legacy on endophyte-mediated host benefits is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of foliar endophytes in red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) salt tolerance.
- To determine if prior salinity exposure (legacy) of endophytes influences their ability to improve host salt tolerance.
Main Methods:
- Collected 90 foliar endophyte communities from 30 sites in the coastal Everglades.
- Grew over 350 red mangrove seedlings in a controlled experiment.
- Manipulated seedling salinity, endophyte inoculation (live vs. sterilized), and endophyte salinity legacy (0-40 ppt).
Main Results:
- Endophyte inoculation improved mangrove performance by 15-20% on average, especially when endophytes were from saltwater environments.
- Crucially, endophyte-conferred salt tolerance was dependent on the endophyte's salinity legacy.
- Endophytes from high-salinity environments significantly improved salt-stressed mangrove performance, while freshwater endophytes did not.
Conclusions:
- Endophyte salinity legacy is a critical factor in mediating host plant salt tolerance.
- Understanding these microbial legacies is vital for restoring and managing coastal ecosystems under increasing salinity stress.
- Foundation species like mangroves rely on these beneficial endophytic associations for resilience.
Keywords:
Evergladesendophyteslegacy effectsmangrovesmutualismsalinity legacysalt tolerancesea level riseMore Related Videos
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