Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores02:40

Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores

12.9K
Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the...
12.9K
The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition02:11

The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition

35.1K
Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
35.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Environmental complexity shapes maintenance of bacterial diversity through context-dependent interactions among niche axes.

The ISME journal·2026
Same author

Carbon regime structures functional trait trajectories during primary succession in microorganisms.

The ISME journal·2026
Same author

Exploring sagebrush leaf microbial metagenomes from deep, host-derived sequencing.

Microbiology spectrum·2026
Same author

Microbial ecology for all: A vision of accessibility, unity, and responsibility.

Ecology·2026
Same author

Microbes without borders: uniting societies for climate action.

mBio·2025
Same author

Microbes without borders: uniting societies for climate action.

FEMS microbiology ecology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2025

Monitoring Bacterial Colonization and Maintenance on Arabidopsis thaliana Roots in a Floating Hydroponic System
09:04

Monitoring Bacterial Colonization and Maintenance on Arabidopsis thaliana Roots in a Floating Hydroponic System

Published on: May 28, 2019

10.6K

Bacterial community function increases leaf growth in a pitcher plant experimental system.

Jessica R Bernardin1, Erica B Young2, Sarah M Gray3

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA.

Msystems
|November 25, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Bacterial communities in pitcher plants significantly impact plant growth. A community focused on decomposition led to larger, heavier leaves, suggesting microbes like those with chitinase activity are key to plant health.

Keywords:
Sarracenia purpureahost healthmetagenomicsmetatranscriptomicsmicrobe-plant interactionsmicrobial community functionphyllospherepitcher plant

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Exploring Plant-Microbe Interactions Through Root Exudates in a Novel Growth System
06:33

Author Spotlight: Exploring Plant-Microbe Interactions Through Root Exudates in a Novel Growth System

Published on: November 17, 2023

1.7K
A Hydroponic Co-cultivation System for Simultaneous and Systematic Analysis of Plant/Microbe Molecular Interactions and Signaling
11:16

A Hydroponic Co-cultivation System for Simultaneous and Systematic Analysis of Plant/Microbe Molecular Interactions and Signaling

Published on: July 22, 2017

14.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 6, 2025

Monitoring Bacterial Colonization and Maintenance on Arabidopsis thaliana Roots in a Floating Hydroponic System
09:04

Monitoring Bacterial Colonization and Maintenance on Arabidopsis thaliana Roots in a Floating Hydroponic System

Published on: May 28, 2019

10.6K
Author Spotlight: Exploring Plant-Microbe Interactions Through Root Exudates in a Novel Growth System
06:33

Author Spotlight: Exploring Plant-Microbe Interactions Through Root Exudates in a Novel Growth System

Published on: November 17, 2023

1.7K
A Hydroponic Co-cultivation System for Simultaneous and Systematic Analysis of Plant/Microbe Molecular Interactions and Signaling
11:16

A Hydroponic Co-cultivation System for Simultaneous and Systematic Analysis of Plant/Microbe Molecular Interactions and Signaling

Published on: July 22, 2017

14.0K

Area of Science:

  • Microbial Ecology
  • Plant Science
  • Symbiotic Interactions

Background:

  • Plant-microbe interactions are crucial across ecosystems, yet bacterial community functions' effects on plant growth are poorly understood.
  • Carnivorous plants, like the purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea), may rely on microbes for nutrient acquisition from prey decomposition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how distinct bacterial community functions influence the growth and nutrient content of Sarracenia purpurea.
  • To identify specific microbial mechanisms supporting plant health and growth in a host-associated context.

Main Methods:

  • Inoculation of sterile Sarracenia purpurea pitchers with three pre-assembled, functionally distinct bacterial communities.
  • Analysis of bacterial community composition and function over 8 weeks using physiological assays, metagenomics, and metatranscriptomics.

Main Results:

  • Bacterial community function significantly affected plant traits, with a decomposition-enriched community yielding larger, heavier leaves (nearly double biomass).
  • Metatranscriptomics confirmed physiological differences, showing higher chitinase enzyme transcript expression in communities with greater chitinase activity.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial community functions play a direct role in supporting pitcher plant growth and biomass.
  • Mechanisms like chitinase activity are potential pathways through which microbes enhance host plant development and nutrient uptake.