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Area of Science:

  • Plant-microbe interactions
  • Microbiome research
  • Agricultural science

Background:

  • Understanding plant microbiomes is key to plant-microbe interactions.
  • Plant-associated microbes influence plant health and productivity.
  • Spatial distribution of microbes across plant compartments is complex.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) microbial communities across five niches.
  • To analyze cultivar-specific effects on spinach microbiomes.
  • To identify core microbiomes and microbial transfer between niches.

Main Methods:

  • 16S rRNA and ITS amplicon sequencing were used.
  • Microbial diversity, composition, co-occurrence networks, and functional potential were analyzed.
  • SourceTracker2 was employed to trace microbial origins.

Main Results:

  • Niche significantly influenced all microbiome parameters, with highest diversity in bulk soil and lowest in endosphere.
  • Cultivar-specific differences were observed, particularly in fungal communities.
  • A core microbiome of 10 bacterial and 6 fungal taxa was identified.
  • Rhizosphere and leaf episphere were primary sources for endosphere communities.
  • Fungal communities exhibited higher inter-niche transfer rates than bacterial communities.

Conclusions:

  • Microbial communities in spinach exhibit distinct spatial organization and cultivar-specific variations.
  • Understanding microbial distribution aids in developing strategies for pathogen mitigation and beneficial microbe introduction.
  • The identified core microbiome provides targets for crop improvement.