Plant host and soil origin influence fungal and bacterial assemblages in the roots of woody plants. Issue 13 (July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bonito, Gregory; Reynolds, Hannah; Robeson, Michael S.; Nelson, Jessica; Hodkinson, Brendan P.; Tuskan, Gerald; Schadt, Christopher W.; Vilgalys, Rytas
• Is Part Of: Molecular ecology. Volume 23:Issue 13(2014)
• Page Start: 3356
• Page End: 3370
• Publication Date: 2014-07
• Subjects: Molecular ecology -- Periodicals; Molecular population biology -- Periodicals; 576
• DOI: 10.1111/mec.12821
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0962-1083

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="mec12821-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Microbial communities in plant roots provide critical links between above‐ and belowground processes in terrestrial ecosystems. Variation in root communities has been attributed to plant host effects and microbial host preferences, as well as to factors pertaining to soil conditions, microbial biogeography and the presence of viable microbial propagules. To address hypotheses regarding the influence of plant host and soil biogeography on root fungal and bacterial communities, we designed a trap‐plant bioassay experiment. Replicate <italic>Populus</italic>, <italic> Quercus</italic> and <italic>Pinus</italic> plants were grown in three soils originating from alternate field sites. Fungal and bacterial community profiles in the root of each replicate were assessed through multiplex 454 amplicon sequencing of four loci (i.e., 16S, SSU, ITS, LSU rDNA). Soil origin had a larger effect on fungal community composition than did host species, but the opposite was true for bacterial communities. <italic>Populus</italic> hosted the highest diversity of rhizospheric fungi and bacteria. Root communities on <italic>Quercus</italic> and <italic>Pinus</italic> were more similar to each other than to <italic>Populus</italic>. Overall, fungal root symbionts appear to be more constrained by dispersal and biogeography than by host availability.</p> </abstract>