Host genotype explains rhizospheric microbial community composition: the case of wild cotton metapopulations (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in Mexico

• Published in: FEMS microbiology ecology 2020-08, Vol.96 (8), p.1
• Main Authors: Hernández-Terán, Alejandra, Navarro-Díaz, Marcelo, Benítez, Mariana, Lira, Rafael, Wegier, Ana, Escalante, Ana E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Bacteria - genetics; Community composition; Cotton; Ecology; Environmental conditions; Gene sequencing; Genetic aspects; Genetic diversity; Genotype; Genotypes; Gossypium; Gossypium thurberi; Host plants; Host-bacteria relationships; Identification and classification; Inoculum; Intraspecific genetic variation; Metapopulations; Methods; Mexico; Microbial activity; Microbiology; Microbiomes; Microbiota; Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms); Microorganisms; Plant communities; Plant populations; Plant Roots; Populations; Rhizosphere; RNA sequencing; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; rRNA 16S; Soil; Soil conditions; Soil Microbiology; Soil microorganisms
• ISSN: 0168-6496; 1574-6941
• DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiaa109

ABSTRACT The rhizosphere provides several benefits to the plant host being a strong determinant for its health, growth and productivity. Nonetheless, the factors behind the assembly of the microbial communities associated with the rhizosphere such as the role of plant genotypes are not completely understood. In this study, we tested the role that intraspecific genetic variation has in rhizospheric microbial community assemblages, using genetically distinct wild cotton populations as a model of study. We followed a common garden experiment including five wild cotton populations, controlling for plant genotypes, environmental conditions and soil microbial community inoculum, to test for microbial differences associated with genetic variation of the plant hosts. Microbial communities of the treatments were characterized by culture-independent 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing with Illumina MiSeq platform. We analyzed microbial community diversity (alpha and beta), and diversity structure of such communities, determined by co-occurrence networks. Results show that different plant genotypes select for different and specific microbial communities from a common inoculum. Although we found common amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) to all plant populations (235), we also found unique ASVs for different populations that could be related to potential functional role of such ASVs in the rhizosphere. Experiments testing for the role of cotton plants genotype in the microbes inhabiting roots show that specific cotton genotypes (individual populations) can be traced back by the identity of their microbes.