Genome-wide association study of Arabidopsis thaliana leaf microbial community.
Identifying the factors that influence the outcome of host-microbial interactions is critical to protecting biodiversity, minimizing agricultural losses and improving human health. A few genes that determine symbiosis or resistance to infectious disease have been identified in model species, but a comprehensive examination of how a host genotype influences the structure of its microbial community is lacking. Here we report the results of a field experiment with the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana to identify the fungi and bacteria that colonize its leaves and the host loci that influence the microbe numbers. The composition of this community differs among accessions of A. thaliana. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) suggest that plant loci responsible for defense and cell wall integrity affect variation in this community. Furthermore, species richness in the bacterial community is shaped by host genetic variation, notably at loci that also influence the reproduction of viruses, trichome branching and morphogenesis.
1] Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA [2] Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 1030, Austria.
Matthew W
MW
Horton
Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
Natacha
N
Bodenhausen
Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
Kathleen
K
Beilsmith
Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 1030, Austria.
Dazhe
D
Meng
Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63108, USA.
Brian D
BD
Muegge
Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63108, USA.
Sathish
S
Subramanian
Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
M Madlen
MM
Vetter
Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 1030, Austria.
Bjarni J
BJ
Vilhjálmsson
Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 1030, Austria.
Magnus
M
Nordborg
Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63108, USA.
Jeffrey I
JI
Gordon
Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
Joy
J
Bergelson
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D056426:Genetic Loci / Q000235:genetics; D064349:Genome, Microbial / Q000235:genetics*; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D005838:Genotype; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000382:microbiology*