The effects of Pinus sylvestris L. geographical origin on the community and co-occurrence of fungal and bacterial endophytes in a common garden experiment

• Published in: Microbiology spectrum 2024-10, Vol.12 (10), p.e0080724
• Main Authors: Maitra, Pulak, Hrynkiewicz, Katarzyna, Szuba, Agnieszka, Niestrawska, Adrianna, Mucha, Joanna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Biodiversity; common-garden; Endophytes - classification; Endophytes - genetics; Endophytes - isolation & purification; Endophytes - physiology; Environmental Microbiology; Fungi - classification; Fungi - genetics; Fungi - isolation & purification; Fungi - physiology; Microbiota; Phylogeny; Pinus sylvestris - microbiology; Plant Roots - microbiology; Research Article; root microbial communities; scot pine; season; Seasons; tree origin
• ISSN: 2165-0497; 2165-0497
• DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00807-24

Below-ground microorganisms, particularly endophytes, are pivotal for plant establishment and functioning through nutrient acquisition and enhancing resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. The impact of host plant origin within a species on the composition and interaction networks of root endophytic fungi and bacteria has been less explored compared with plant phylogeny and biological distance. This study investigates the effect of geographic origin on the fungal and bacterial microbiomes of L. root endophytes. Roots from plants grown in a common garden, originating from six locations, were harvested in two distinct seasons. Fungal and bacterial microbiomes were analyzed using Illumina MiSeq sequencing. The operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness of endophytic fungi and bacteria showed no significant variation due to tree origin or season. However, the Shannon diversity index for endophytic fungi was seasonally influenced. The composition of endophytic fungal and bacterial communities was affected by both tree origin and season, correlating with host root biochemical parameters, such as starch, total non-structural carbohydrates, carbon, nitrogen, and climatic factors, such as mean annual precipitation and temperature. Moreover, the abundance of specific endophytic fungi and bacteria varied across different origins, depending on the season. The complexity of the co-occurrence networks of fungal and bacterial endophytes within also differed by geographical origin and season. This study highlights the significant role of biochemical and climatic factors associated with tree origin in shaping interactions with endophytic communities, potentially affecting plant health and adaptability across diverse environments. This study advances our understanding of how plant ecotype and seasonal changes influence root endophytic communities in Scots pine ( ). By examining trees from various origins grown in a common garden, it highlights the role of tree origin and season in shaping fungal and bacterial community and co-occurrence networks. Importantly, this research demonstrates that tree origin impacts the composition and interaction networks of root endophytes and depends on the season. The study's findings suggest that root biochemical traits and climatic conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation) associated with tree origin are crucial in determining the assembly of endophytic communities. This understanding could lead to innovative strategies for enhancing