Bacteriosomes in axenic plants: endophytes as stable endosymbionts

Biocontrol of plant pathogens in omics era-with special focus on endophytic bacilli

Nearly all plants and their organs are inhabited by endophytic microbes which play a crucial role in plant fitness and stress resilience. Harnessing endophytic services can provide effective solutions for a sustainable increase in agriculture productivity and can be used as a complement or alternative to agrochemicals. Shifting agriculture practices toward the use of nature-based solutions can contribute directly to the global challenges of food security and environmental sustainability. However, microbial inoculants have been used in agriculture for several decades with inconsistent efficacy. Key reasons of this inconsistent efficacy are linked to competition with indigenous soil microflora and inability to colonize plants. Endophytic microbes provide solutions to both of these issues which potentially make them better candidates for microbial inoculants. This article outlines the current advancements in endophytic research with special focus on endophytic bacilli. A better understanding of diverse mechanisms of disease control by bacilli is essential to achieve maximum biocontrol efficacy against multiple phytopathogens. Furthermore, we argue that integration of emerging technologies with strong theoretical frameworks have the potential to revolutionize biocontrol approaches based on endophytic microbes.

Use of Electron Microscopy for the Detection of Contaminant Endophytic Bacteria In Vitro

The success of in vitro cultivation, particularly for micropropagation purposes, depends on the efficient control of contaminants. In this context, the sterilization of plant material constitutes a fundamental step in initiating cultures. Microbial contaminants can be found either on the surface (epiphyte) or inside plant explants (endophyte). However, the latter is generally challenging to detect and may not always be eradicated through surface sterilization alone. Endophyte contaminants, such as bacteria, can persist within plant material over several cultivation cycles, potentially interfering with or inhibiting in vitro establishment, growth, or recovery of cryopreserved materials. Therefore, microscopy techniques, such as electron microscopy, can yield valuable insights into bacterial endophytes' localization, tissue colonization patterns, and functions in in vitro plant culture. This information is essential for adopting effective strategies for eliminating, preventing, or harmonious coexistence with contaminants.

Manure and biochar have limited effect on lettuce leaf endophyte resistome

Soil amendment with manure compost and biochar is widely adopted to improve soil fertility and promote plant growth, and their effects on soil microbial communities and resistome have been well documented. However, there is sparse information regarding their effects on vegetable endophytes, which represent a major source of human exposure to pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) when eaten raw. Here, we investigated the impacts of manure compost or biochar addition on the bacterial community compositions and ARGs in the soil-lettuce continuum including soil, seed, leaf, and root samples. A total of 137 ARGs and 31 mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were detected in all the samples after 60 days of cultivation. The relative abundance of ARGs and the diversity of bacteria communities presented a consistent decreasing trend from soil to root endophytes, then leaf endophytes. Manure compost addition increased the diversity and abundance of ARGs in soil, while significant changes in the ARG profiles and bacterial communities were not observed in leaf endophytes after manure compost or biochar addition, or both. Bipartite networks analysis suggested that seed microbiome was one of the major sources of plant endophytes and ARGs. Twenty potential human pathogens were isolated from lettuce, indicating potential exposure risk to pathogens via the consumption of raw lettuce. These results suggest limited impacts of manure compost and biochar addition on lettuce endophytes and highlight the contribution of seed microbiome to endophyte ARG profiles.

Cytobacts: Abundant and Diverse Vertically Seed-Transmitted Cultivation-Recalcitrant Intracellular Bacteria Ubiquitous to Vascular Plants

We have recently described ‘Cytobacts’ as abundant intracellular endophytic bacteria inhabiting live plant cells based on the observations with callus and cell suspension cultures of grapevine and other plant species with the origin ascribable to field explants. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of such cytoplasmic bacterial associations in field plants across different taxa, their cultivability, and the extent of taxonomic diversity and explored the possibility of their embryo-mediated vertical transmission. Over 100 genera of field plants were surveyed for ‘Cytobacts’ through bright-field live-cell imaging as per our previous experience using fresh tissue sections from surface-sterilized shoot-tissues with parallel cultivation-based assessments. This revealed widespread cellular bacterial associations visualized as copious motile micro-particles in the cytoplasm with no or sparse colony forming units (CFU) from the tissue-homogenates indicating their general non-cultivability. Based on the ease of detection and the abundance of ‘Cytobacts’ in fresh tissue sections, the surveyed plants were empirically classified into three groups: (i) motile bacteria detected instantly in most cells; (ii) motility not so widely observed, but seen in some cells; and (iii) only occasional motile units observed, but abundant non-motile bacterial cells present. Microscopy versus 16S-rRNA V3–V4 amplicon profiling on shoot-tip tissues of four representative plants—tomato, watermelon, periwinkle, and maize—showed high bacterial abundance and taxonomic diversity (11–15 phyla) with the dominance of Proteobacteria followed by Firmicutes/Actinobacteria, and several other phyla in minor shares. The low CFU/absence of bacterial CFU from the tissue homogenates on standard bacteriological media endorsed their cultivation-recalcitrance. Intracellular bacterial colonization implied that the associated organisms are able to transmit vertically to the next generation through the seed-embryos. Microscopy and 16S-rRNA V3–V4 amplicon/metagenome profiling of mature embryos excised from fresh watermelon seeds revealed heavy embryo colonization by diverse bacteria with sparse or no CFU. Observations with grapevine fresh fruit-derived seeds and seed-embryos endorsed the vertical transmission by diverse cultivation-recalcitrant endophytic bacteria (CREB). By and large, Proteobacteria formed the major phylum in fresh seed-embryos with varying shares of diverse phyla. Thus, we document ‘Cytobacts’ comprising diverse and vertically transmissible CREBs as a ubiquitous phenomenon in vascular plants.

Nitrogen fixing cereal: A rising hero towards meeting food security

Nitrogen serves as one of the primary components of major biomolecules and thus extends a significant contribution to crop growth and yield. But the inability of plants to utilize freely available atmospheric N₂ makes the whole agricultural system dependent on chemical fertilizers, which incur significant input cost to supplement required quantities of nitrogen to crops. Only bacteria and archaea have been gifted with the power of drawing free N₂ from air to convert them into NH₃, which is one of the two utilizable forms of nitrogen taken up by plants. Legumes, the only family of crops, can engage themselves in symbiotic nitrogen fixation where they establish a mutualistic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and in turn, can waive off the necessity of adding nitrogen fertilizers. Sincere effort, therefore, has been undertaken to incorporate this capability of nitrogen-fixation into non-legume crops, especially cereals which make up a vital portion in the food basket. Biotechnological interventions have also played important role in providing nitrogen fixing trait to non-legumes. This review takes up an effort to look into and accumulate all the important updates to date regarding nitrogen-fixing non-legumes with a special focus on cereals, which is one of the most important future goals in the field of science in the present era.

Nitrogen fixation in maize: breeding opportunities

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a highly versatile crop with huge demand of nitrogen (N) for its growth and development. N is the most essential macronutrient for crop production. Despite being the highest abundant element in the atmosphere (~ 78%), it is scarcely available for plant growth. To fulfil the N demand, commercial agriculture is largely dependent on synthetic fertilizers. Excessive dependence on inorganic fertilizers has created extensive ecological as well as economic problems worldwide. Hence, for a sustainable solution to nitrogenous fertilizer use, development of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in cereals will be the best alternative. BNF is a well-known mechanism in legumes where diazotrophs convert atmospheric nitrogen (N≡N) to plant-available form, ammonium (NH₄⁺). From many decades, researchers have dreamt to develop a similar symbiotic partnership as in legumes to the cereal crops. A large number of endophytic diazotrophs have been found associated with maize. Elucidation of the genetic and molecular aspects of their interaction will open up new avenues to introgress BNF in maize breeding. With the advanced understanding of N-fixation process, researchers are at a juncture of breeding and engineering this symbiotic relationships in cereals. Different breeding, genetic engineering, omics, gene editing, and synthetic biology approaches will be discussed in this review to make BNF a reality in cereals. It will help to provide a road map to develop/improve the BNF in maize to an advance step for the sustainable production system to achieve the food and nutritional security.

Contaminação versus manifestação endofítica: implicações no cultivo in vitro de plantas

Resumo A cultura de tecidos vegetais é imprescindível à propagação e multiplicação uniforme de plantas, à conservação de germoplasma, a programas de melhoramento e à transformação genética. Essa técnica tem exigido, cada vez mais, estudos que colaborem com o entendimento dos mecanismos envolvidos no crescimento dos microrganismos nos meios de cultivo, bem como as relações que eles estabelecem com a planta hospedeira. Dessa maneira, a presente revisão pretende esclarecer esses questionamentos e promover a distinção entre contaminação e manifestação endofítica que ocorrem no cultivo in vitro por diferentes causas. Tal distinção permite diminuir o pânico que se instala quando do seu aparecimento, além de auxiliar na adoção de medidas de prevenção e/ou controle desses eventos sem que haja descartes desnecessários de material de alto valor comercial e genético.

Bacterial Endophyte Colonization and Distribution within Plants

The plant endosphere contains a diverse group of microbial communities. There is general consensus that these microbial communities make significant contributions to plant health. Both recently adopted genomic approaches and classical microbiology techniques continue to develop the science of plant-microbe interactions. Endophytes are microbial symbionts residing within the plant for the majority of their life cycle without any detrimental impact to the host plant. The use of these natural symbionts offers an opportunity to maximize crop productivity while reducing the environmental impacts of agriculture. Endophytes promote plant growth through nitrogen fixation, phytohormone production, nutrient acquisition, and by conferring tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Colonization by endophytes is crucial for providing these benefits to the host plant. Endophytic colonization refers to the entry, growth and multiplication of endophyte populations within the host plant. Lately, plant microbiome research has gained considerable attention but the mechanism allowing plants to recruit endophytes is largely unknown. This review summarizes currently available knowledge about endophytic colonization by bacteria in various plant species, and specifically discusses the colonization of maize plants by Populus endophytes.

Cultivation Versus Molecular Analysis of Banana (Musa sp.) Shoot-Tip Tissue Reveals Enormous Diversity of Normally Uncultivable Endophytic Bacteria

The interior of plants constitutes a unique environment for microorganisms with various organisms inhabiting as endophytes. Unlike subterranean plant parts, aboveground parts are relatively less explored for endophytic microbial diversity. We employed a combination of cultivation and molecular approaches to study the endophytic bacterial diversity in banana shoot-tips. Cultivable bacteria from 20 sucker shoot-tips of cv. Grand Naine included 37 strains under 16 genera and three phyla (Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes). 16S rRNA gene-ribotyping approach on 799f and 1492r PCR-amplicons to avoid plant organelle sequences was ineffective showing limited bacterial diversity. 16S rRNA metagene profiling targeting the V3-V4 hypervariable region after filtering out the chloroplast (74.2 %), mitochondrial (22.9 %), and unknown sequences (1.1 %) revealed enormous bacterial diversity. Proteobacteria formed the predominant phylum (64 %) succeeded by Firmicutes (12.1 %), Actinobacteria (9.5 %), Bacteroidetes (6.4 %), Planctomycetes, Cyanobacteria, and minor shares (<1 %) of 14 phyla including several candidate phyla besides the domain Euryarchaeota (0.2 %). Microbiome analysis of single shoot-tips through 16S rRNA V3 region profiling showed similar taxonomic richness and diversity and was less affected by plant sequence interferences. DNA extraction kit ominously influenced the phylogenetic diversity. The study has revealed vast diversity of normally uncultivable endophytic bacteria prevailing in banana shoot-tips (20 phyla, 46 classes) with about 2.6 % of the deciphered 269 genera and 1.5 % of the 656 observed species from the same source of shoot-tips attained through cultivation. The predominant genera included several agriculturally important bacteria. The study reveals an immense ecosystem of endophytic bacteria in banana shoot tissues endorsing the earlier documentation of intracellular "Cytobacts" and "Peribacts" with possible roles in plant holobiome and hologenome.

Dominant Groups of Potentially Active Bacteria Shared by Barley Seeds become Less Abundant in Root Associated Microbiome

Endophytes are microorganisms colonizing plant internal tissues. They are ubiquitously associated with plants and play an important role in plant growth and health. In this work, we grew five modern cultivars of barley in axenic systems using sterile sand mixture as well as in greenhouse with natural soil. We characterized the potentially active microbial communities associated with seeds and roots using rRNA based amplicon sequencing. The seeds of the different cultivars share a great part of their microbiome, as we observed a predominance of a few bacterial OTUs assigned to Phyllobacterium, Paenibacillus, and Trabusiella. Seed endophytes, particularly members of the Enterobacteriacea and Paenibacillaceae, were important members of root endophytes in axenic systems, where there were no external microbes. However, when plants were grown in soil, seed endophytes became less abundant in root associated microbiome. We observed a clear enrichment of Actinobacteriacea and Rhizobiaceae, indicating a strong influence of the soil bacterial communities on the composition of the root microbiome. Two OTUs assigned to Phyllobacteriaceae were found in all seeds and root samples growing in soil, indicating a relationship between seed-borne and root associated microbiome in barley. Even though the role of endophytic bacteria remains to be clarified, it is known that many members of the genera detected in our study produce phytohormones, shape seedling exudate profile and may play an important role in germination and establishment of the seedlings.

Identification and characterization of endophytic bacteria isolated from in vitro cultures of peach and pear rootstocks

Endophytes are microorganisms which live symbiotically with almost all varieties of plant and in turn helping the plant in a number of ways. Instead of satisfactory surface sterilization approaches, repeatedly occurring bacterial growth on in vitro rootstock cultures of peach and pear was identified and isolated as endophytic bacteria in our present study. Five different isolates from peach rootstocks were molecularly identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Brevundimonas diminuta, Leifsonia shinshuensis, Sphingomonas parapaucimobilis Brevundimonas vesicularis, Agrobacterium tumefaciens while two endophytic isolates of pear were identified as Pseudoxanthomonas mexicana, and Stenotrophomonas rhizophilia. Identified endophytes were also screened for their potential of plant growth promotion according to indoleacetic acid (IAA) production, nitrogen fixation, solubilization of phosphate and production of siderophore. All seven endophytic isolates have shown positive results for IAA, nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization tests. However, two out of seven isolates showed positive results for siderophore production. On the basis of these growth promoting competences, isolated endophytes can be presumed to have significant influence on the growth of host plants. Future studies required to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profile and potential application of these isolates in biological control, microbial biofertilizers and degradative enzyme production.

Investigation of Endophytic Bacterial Community in Supposedly Axenic Cultures of Pineapple and Orchids with Evidence on Abundant Intracellular Bacteria

Asepsis, defined as the absence of microbial contamination, is one of the most important requirements of plant micropropagation. In long-term micropropagated cultures, there may occasionally occur scattered microorganism growth in the culture medium. These microorganisms are common plant components and are known as latent endophytes. Thus, the aim of this research was to investigate the presence of endophytic bacteria in asymptomatic pineapple and orchid microplants, which were cultivated in three laboratories for 1 year. Isolation and characterization of bacterial isolates, PCR-DGGE from total genomic DNA of microplants and ultrastructural analysis of leaves were performed. In the culture-dependent technique, it was only possible to obtain bacterial isolates from pineapple microplants. In this case, the bacteria genera identified in the isolation technique were Bacillus, Acinetobacter, and Methylobacterium. The scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) analyses revealed the presence of endophytic bacteria in intracellular spaces in the leaves of pineapple and orchid microplants, independent of the laboratory or cultivation protocol. Our results strongly indicate that there are endophytic bacterial communities inhabiting the microplants before initiation of the in vitro culture and that some of these endophytes persist in their latent form and can also grow in the culture medium even after long-term micropropagation, thus discarding the concept of "truly axenic plants."

Endophytic bacterial communities associated with two explant sources of Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden & Cambage

Micropropagation has been applied in the recovery and rejuvenation of adult trees, which is achieved by various subcultures in the multiplication phase. This strategy has brought questions about the endophytic microbiota associated with these plants along its manipulation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the composition of the endophytic bacterial communities associated with two explants sources [the canopy branches (CB) and the trunk base of the tree (TB)] under prolonged in vitro cultivation. In addition we analyzed the bacterial community dynamic along the subcultures in different micropropagation phases. Bacterial DNA was extracted from samples of mini-stumps (in vivo) from CB and TB and in micro-stumps produced by in vitro cultivations of these explants sources--both originated from one single matrix plant of Eucalyptus benthamii. In vitro establishment occurred in two dates and the evaluation of endophytic bacterial communities was made in vivo and in vitro samples (on 10th, 13th and 16th subcultures), when elongated shoots and roots were analyzed. Analysis was performed by PCR-DGGE based on the V6 region of ribosomal gene 16S rDNA. Bands profiles showed differences in communities between in vivo and in vitro samples, and also distinctions of communities assessed in the subcultures, elongated and rooted samples. Distinctions in the composition of endophytic bacterial communities were greater in CB micro-stumps. These results indicate a differential colonization of explants by endophytic bacteria, with predominance of common (ever-present) endophytes in TB samples and casual, here named opportunistic, in CB samples.

The foliar microbiome

Proficient performance in plants is strongly associated with distinct microbial communities that live in and on their organs. We comment here on the current knowledge of the composition of the foliar microbiome, highlight its importance for plants, ecosystemic functioning, and crop yields, and propose tools and experiments to overcome the current knowledge gap.

Live cell imaging reveals extensive intracellular cytoplasmic colonization of banana by normally non-cultivable endophytic bacteria

It is generally believed that endophytic microorganisms are intercellular inhabitants present in either cultivable or non-cultivable form primarily as root colonizers. The objective of this study was to determine whether the actively mobile micro-particles observed in the intracellular matrix of fresh tissue sections of banana included endophytic bacteria. Tissue sections (50-100 µm) from apical leaf sheaths of surface-disinfected suckers (cv. Grand Naine) displayed 'Brownian motion'-reminiscent abundant motile micro-particles under bright-field and phase-contrast (×1000), which appeared similar in size and motility to the pure cultures of endophytes previously isolated from banana. Observations on callus, embryonic cells and protoplasts with intact cell wall/plasma membrane confirmed their cytoplasmic nature. The motility of these entities reduced or ceased upon tissue fixation or staining with safranin/crystal violet (0.5 % w/v), but continued uninterrupted following treatment with actin-disrupting drugs, ruling out the possibility of micro-organelles like peroxisomes. Staining with 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) confirmed them to be live bacteria with similar observations after dilute safranin (0.005 %) treatment. Tissue staining with SYTO-9 coupled with epi-fluorescence or confocal laser scanning microscopy showed bacterial colonization along the peri-space between cell wall and plasma membrane initially. SYTO-9 counterstaining on TTC- or safranin-treated tissue and those subjected to enzymatic permeabilization revealed the cytoplasmic bacteria. These included organisms moving freely in the cytoplasm and those adhering to the nuclear envelope or vacuoles and the intravacuolar colonizers. The observations appeared ubiquitous to different genomes and genotypes of banana. Plating the tissue homogenate on nutrient media seldom yielded colony growth. This study, supported largely by live cell video-imaging, demonstrates enormous intracellular colonization in bananas by normally non-cultivable endophytic bacteria in two niches, namely cytoplasmic and periplasmic, designated as 'Cytobacts' and 'Peribacts', respectively. The integral intracellular association with their clonal perpetuation suggests a mutualistic relationship between endophytes and the host.

Different selective effects on rhizosphere bacteria exerted by genetically modified versus conventional potato lines

BACKGROUND

In this study, we assessed the actively metabolizing bacteria in the rhizosphere of potato using two potato cultivars, i.e. the genetically-modified (GM) cultivar Modena (having tubers with altered starch content) and the near-isogenic non-GM cultivar Karnico. To achieve our aims, we pulse-labelled plants at EC90 stage with (13)C-CO2 and analysed their rhizosphere microbial communities 24 h, 5 and 12 days following the pulse. In the analyses, phospholipid fatty acid/stable isotope probing (PLFA-SIP) as well as RNA-SIP followed by reverse transcription and PCR-DGGE and clone library analysis, were used to determine the bacterial groups that actively respond to the root-released (13)C labelled carbonaceous compounds.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

The PLFA-SIP data revealed major roles of bacteria in the uptake of root-released (13)C carbon, which grossly increased with time. Gram-negative bacteria, including members of the genera Pseudomonas and Burkholderia, were strong accumulators of the (13)C-labeled compounds at the two cultivars, whereas Gram-positive bacteria were lesser responders. PCR-DGGE analysis of cDNA produced from the two cultivar types showed that these had selected different bacterial, alpha- and betaproteobacterial communities at all time points. Moreover, an effect of time was observed, indicating dynamism in the structure of the active bacterial communities. PCR-DGGE as well as clone library analyses revealed that the main bacterial responders at cultivar Karnico were taxonomically affiliated with the genus Pseudomonas, next to Gluconacetobacter and Paracoccus. Cultivar Modena mainly attracted Burkholderia, next to Moraxella-like (Moraxellaceae family) and Sphingomonas types.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

Based on the use of Pseudomonas and Burkholderia as proxies for differentially-selected bacterial genera, we conclude that the selective forces exerted by potato cultivar Modena on the active bacterial populations differed from those exerted by cultivar Karnico.

Microscopic elucidation of abundant endophytic bacteria colonizing the cell wall–plasma membrane peri-space in the shoot-tip tissue of banana

Plants are known to harbor endophytic bacteria, the organisms residing internally without imparting any apparent adverse effects on the host. Endophytes are generally known to be present in few numbers colonizing the intercellular spaces, primarily in roots. This study adopting SYTO 9 staining and live confocal imaging of fresh tissue sections from the shoot-tip region of banana, supported by transmission electron microscopy, brings out, possibly for the first time, extensive bacterial colonization in the confined cell wall – plasma membrane peri-space. The integral host-association and their abundance suggest a prominent role of endophytes in the biology of the host.

This study was aimed at generating microscopic evidence of intra-tissue colonization in banana in support of the previous findings on widespread association of endophytic bacteria with the shoot tips of field-grown plants and micropropagated cultures, and to understand the extent of tissue colonization. Leaf-sheath tissue sections (∼50–100 µm) from aseptically gathered shoot tips of cv. Grand Naine were treated with Live/Dead bacterial viability kit components SYTO 9 (S9) and propidium iodide (PI) followed by epifluorescence or confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The S9, which targets live bacteria, showed abundant green-fluorescing particles along the host cell periphery in CLSM, apparently in between the plasma membrane and the cell wall. These included non-motile and occasional actively motile single bacterial cells seen in different x–y planes and z-stacks over several cell layers, with the fluorescence signal similar to that of pure cultures of banana endophytes. Propidium iodide, which stains dead bacteria, did not detect any, but post-ethanol treatment, both PI and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole detected abundant bacteria. Propidium iodide showed clear nuclear staining, as did S9 to some extent, and the fluorophores appeared to detect bacteria at the exclusion of DNA-containing plant organelles as gathered from bright-field and phase-contrast microscopy. The S9–PI staining did not work satisfactorily with formalin- or paraformaldehyde-fixed tissue. The extensive bacterial colonization in fresh tissue was further confirmed with the suckers of different cultivars, and was supported by transmission electron microscopy. This study thus provides clear microscopic evidence of the extensive endophytic bacterial inhabitation in the confined cell wall–plasma membrane peri-space in shoot tissue of banana with the organisms sharing an integral association with the host. The abundant tissue colonization suggests a possible involvement of endophytes in the biology of the host besides recognizing cell wall–plasma membrane peri-space as a major niche for plant-associated bacteria.

Endophyte microbiome diversity in micropropagated Atriplex canescens and Atriplex torreyi var griffithsii

Microbial diversity associated with micropropagated Atriplex species was assessed using microscopy, isolate culturing, and sequencing. Light, electron, and confocal microscopy revealed microbial cells in aseptically regenerated leaves and roots. Clone libraries and tag-encoded FLX amplicon pyrosequencing (TEFAP) analysis amplified sequences from callus homologous to diverse fungal and bacterial taxa. Culturing isolated some seed borne endophyte taxa which could be readily propagated apart from the host. Microbial cells were observed within biofilm-like residues associated with plant cell surfaces and intercellular spaces. Various universal primers amplified both plant and microbial sequences, with different primers revealing different patterns of fungal diversity. Bacterial and fungal TEFAP followed by alignment with sequences from curated databases revealed 7 bacterial and 17 ascomycete taxa in A. canescens, and 5 bacterial taxa in A. torreyi. Additional diversity was observed among isolates and clone libraries. Micropropagated Atriplex retains a complex, intimately associated microbiome which includes diverse strains well poised to interact in manners that influence host physiology. Microbiome analysis was facilitated by high throughput sequencing methods, but primer biases continue to limit recovery of diverse sequences from even moderately complex communities.