title: Seaweed-microbial interactions: key functions of seaweed-associated bacteria.
abstract: Seaweed-associated bacteria play a crucial role in morphogenesis and growth of seaweeds (macroalgae) in direct and/or indirect ways. Bacterial communities belonging to the phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes are generally the most abundant on seaweed surfaces. Associated bacterial communities produce plant growth-promoting substances, quorum sensing signalling molecules, bioactive compounds and other effective molecules that are responsible for normal morphology, development and growth of seaweeds. Also, bioactive molecules of associated bacteria determine the presence of other bacterial strains on seaweeds and protect the host from harmful entities present in the pelagic realm. The ecological functions of cross-domain signalling between seaweeds and bacteria have been reported as liberation of carpospores in the red seaweeds and settlement of zoospores in the green seaweeds. In the present review, the role of extracellular polymeric substances in growth and settlement of seaweeds spores is also highlighted. To elucidate the functional roles of associated bacteria and the molecular mechanisms underlying reported ecological phenomena in seaweeds requires a combined ecological, microbiological and biochemical approach.
authors: Discipline of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India; Department of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
authors: Ravindra Pal
authors: RP
authors: Singh
authors: C R K
authors: CR
authors: Reddy
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D020560:Proteobacteria / Q000502:physiology; D053038:Quorum Sensing; D012624:Seaweed / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: bacterial communities; extracellular polymeric substances; quorum sensing signalling molecules; seaweeds; zoospores