Do culturable seed endophyte communities differ between native and invasive Fabaceae sharing the same habitat?

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Microbiology
• Plant Science

Background:

• Invasive plant species negatively impact ecosystems by reducing biodiversity and altering functions.
• Seed endophytes are increasingly recognized for their role in plant germination and early development, potentially aiding invasion.
• Understanding endophyte communities associated with invasive and native plants is crucial for predicting invasion dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize and compare the culturable seed endophytes of invasive Acacia spp. and native Portuguese Fabaceae species.
• To investigate the influence of habitat (Dune and Forest) on seed microbial communities.
• To assess the diversity and functional traits of endophytes associated with invasive and native plants.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and culturing of seed endophytes from invasive Acacia and native Fabaceae species.
• Identification of bacterial and fungal endophytes using 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing.
• Prediction of microbial functional traits using FAPROTAX and FungalTraits.

Main Results:

• A total of 150 isolates (99 bacterial, 51 fungal) were identified.
• Seed microbial communities clustered distinctly between Dune and Forest habitats, showing environmental dependency.
• Invasive Acacia spp. harbored richer and more diverse culturable microbiomes than native species, acquiring shared microbial partners.

Conclusions:

• Invasive Acacia species demonstrate an ability to acquire locally beneficial seed endophytes, potentially enhancing their invasion success.
• Endophyte communities differed between habitats, with greater similarity between invasive and native species in Dune habitats.
• The diverse functional traits of endophytes, particularly those promoting metabolism and growth, likely contribute to the invasive success of Acacia spp.