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Establishing Fungal Entomopathogens as Endophytes: Towards Endophytic Biological Control
Published on: April 11, 2013
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Trophic modulation of endophytes by rhizosphere protists
Rasit Asiloglu1, Seda Ozer Bodur2, Solomon Oloruntoba Samuel3
1Institute of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950-2181, Japan.
The ISME Journal
|November 20, 2024
Summary
Predatory protists significantly alter root-associated bacterial communities, influencing plant microbiome composition. This discovery offers new strategies for enhancing crop production through microbial modulation.
Area of Science:
- Microbial Ecology
- Plant-Microbe Interactions
- Soil Science
Background:
- Plant health relies on complex interactions within the rhizosphere, a soil zone around plant roots.
- Rhizosphere harbors intense microbial interactions, particularly between predatory protists and bacteria.
- Rhizobacterial communities are the primary source for root microbiome, including endophytes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if protist predation on rhizobacteria impacts endophytic bacterial community composition.
- To determine the effects of different protist species on endophytic communities across diverse soil types.
- To explore the relationship between protist predation and root colonization by endophytes.
Main Methods:
- Tested effects of three axenic protist species (Acanthamoeba castellanii, Vermamoeba vermiformis, Heteromita globosa).
- Conducted experiments in three distinct soil types with varying bacterial communities and properties.
- Analyzed bacterial community composition using high-throughput sequencing and real-time PCR.
Main Results:
- Protists modulated endophytic bacterial communities originating from rhizosphere soil.
- Protist-induced modulation exhibited chaotic patterns, varying with soil type and nutrient levels.
- Presence of protist predators enhanced root colonization by endophytic bacteria.
Conclusions:
- Protist predation is a key mechanism shaping endophytic bacterial communities.
- Understanding these dynamics enhances knowledge of underground plant-microbe interactions.
- Findings suggest novel approaches for modulating root microbiomes to improve crop yields.
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