ena-STUDY-UNIVERSITY OF RENNES 1-25-09-2017-16:02:52:706-209
Plant host and drought shape the root associated fungal microbiome in rice
Water is an increasingly scarce resource while some crops, such as paddy rice, require large amounts of water to maintain grain production. A better understanding of rice drought adaptation mechanisms could help to reduce this problem. There is increasing evidence for a possible role of root-associated fungi in drought adaptation. We have analysed the root fungal microbial community in rice and its relationship with drought tolerance is highlighted.Hereto, fifteen rice cultivars (Oryza sativa ssp. indica) were grown in the field, under well-watered conditions or exposed to a drought period during flowering. The effect of this treatment on the root-associated fungi was analysed by 18S ribosomal DNA sequencing. Grain yield and plant biomass of the cultivars were determined after plant maturation.There was a host genotype effect on the fungal community composition, with drought treatment inducing changes in the root-associated fungal community and increased the fungal biodiversity. The majority of OTUs belonged to the Pezizomycotina Subphylum.This study shows that drought changes the root-associated fungal community in rice, that the host genotype affects the fungal community structure, and that some fungi maybe associated with improved drought tolerance.
Water is an increasingly scarce resource while some crops, such as paddy rice, require large amounts of water to maintain grain production. A better understanding of rice drought adaptation mechanisms could help to reduce this problem. There is increasing evidence for a possible role of root-associated fungi in drought adaptation. We have analysed the root fungal microbial community in rice and its relationship with drought tolerance is highlighted.Hereto, fifteen rice cultivars (Oryza sativa ssp. indica) were grown in the field, under well-watered conditions or exposed to a drought period during flowering. The effect of this treatment on the root-associated fungi was analysed by 18S ribosomal DNA sequencing. Grain yield and plant biomass of the cultivars were determined after plant maturation.There was a host genotype effect on the fungal community composition, with drought treatment inducing changes in the root-associated fungal community and increased the fungal biodiversity. The majority of OTUs belonged to the Pezizomycotina Subphylum.This study shows that drought changes the root-associated fungal community in rice, that the host genotype affects the fungal community structure, and that some fungi maybe associated with improved drought tolerance.