Seed tuber imprinting shapes the next-generation potato microbiome
Yang Song1, Jelle Spooren2, Casper D Jongekrijg2
1Plant-Microbe Interactions, Department of Biology, Science4Life, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands. y.song1@uu.nl.
Environmental Microbiome
|February 21, 2024
Summary
The origin field significantly impacts potato seed tuber microbiomes, with most microbes transmitted to sprouts, not daughter tubers. This highlights the importance of seed tuber microbiome for potato cultivation.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Microbiology
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Soil-borne microbes colonize potato seed tubers, influencing subsequent plant performance.
- Understanding intergenerational microbial transmission is crucial for potato cultivation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the inheritance of microbiota from seed tubers to daughter plants.
- To track microbial transmission from seed tuber compartments to sprouts.
Main Methods:
- Amplicon sequencing of bacterial and fungal microbiota in tubers and roots.
- Analysis of microbial communities in different seed tuber compartments and sprouts.
Main Results:
- Production field and potato genotype significantly affected seed tuber microbiome composition.
- Microbiome differences persisted through winter storage and distinguished daughter tubers/roots by seed tuber origin.
- Vertical inheritance of field-unique microbes to daughter tubers/roots was minimal (<0.2%).
- Sprout microbiomes largely originated from seed tubers (98%) and retained field-specific patterns.
Conclusions:
- Seed tuber origin shapes the microbiome of developing potato plants and tubers.
- Distinct microbiomes exist within different seed tuber compartments.
- Vertical transmission to sprouts is significant, influencing subsequent microbial communities.
- The seed tuber microbiome is a critical, overlooked factor for predicting seed lot quality and improving potato cultivation.
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