title: Specialized Microbiome of a Halophyte and its Role in Helping Non-Host Plants to Withstand Salinity.
abstract: Root microbiota is a crucial determinant of plant productivity and stress tolerance. Here, we hypothesize that the superior halo-tolerance of seepweed Suaeda salsa is tightly linked to a specialized belowground microbiome. To test this hypothesis, we performed a phylogenetic trait-based framework analysis based on bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal nuclear rRNA internal transcribed spacer profiling. Data showed that the dominant α-proteobacteria and γ-proteobacteria communities in bulk soil and root endosphere tend to be phylogenetically clustered and at the same time exhibit phylogenetic over-dispersion in rhizosphere. Likewise, the dominant fungal genera occurred at high phylogenetic redundancy. Interestingly, we found the genomes of rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria associated with S. salsa to be enriched in genes contributing to salt stress acclimatization, nutrient solubilization and competitive root colonization. A wide diversity of rhizobacteria with similarity to known halotolerant taxa further supported this interpretation. These findings suggest that an ecological patterned root-microbial interaction strategy has been adopted in S. salsa system to confront soil salinity. We also demonstrated that the potential core microbiome members improve non-host plants growth and salt tolerance. This work provides a platform to improve plant fitness with halophytes-microbial associates and novel insights into the functions of plant microbiome under salinity.
authors: Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Hangzhou, P. R. China.
authors: Zhilin
authors: Z
authors: Yuan
authors: Research Area Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Irina S
authors: IS
authors: Druzhinina
authors: Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, USA.
authors: Jessy
authors: J
authors: Labbé
authors: Adaptive Symbiotic Technologies, Seattle, USA.
authors: Regina
authors: R
authors: Redman
authors: Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Hangzhou, P. R. China.
authors: Yuan
authors: Y
authors: Qin
authors: Adaptive Symbiotic Technologies, Seattle, USA.|Depart of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
authors: Russell
authors: R
authors: Rodriguez
authors: State Key Laboratory for Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, P. R. China.
authors: Chulong
authors: C
authors: Zhang
authors: Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, USA.
authors: Gerald A
authors: GA
authors: Tuskan
authors: State Key Laboratory for Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, P. R. China.
authors: Fucheng
authors: F
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D064307:Microbiota / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*; D058441:Rhizosphere; D054712:Salinity; D055051:Salt-Tolerant Plants / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S