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Michl K, David C, Dumont B, Mårtensson LMD, Rasche F, Berg G, Cernava T. Determining the footprint of breeding in the seed microbiome of a perennial cereal. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2024; 19:40. [PMID: 38886863 PMCID: PMC11184768 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-024-00584-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seed endophytes have a significant impact on plant health and fitness. They can be inherited and passed on to the next plant generation. However, the impact of breeding on their composition in seeds is less understood. Here, we studied the indigenous seed microbiome of a recently domesticated perennial grain crop (Intermediate wheatgrass, Thinopyrum intermedium L.) that promises great potential for harnessing microorganisms to enhance crop performance by a multiphasic approach, including amplicon and strain libraries, as well as molecular and physiological assays. RESULTS Intermediate wheatgrass seeds harvested from four field sites in Europe over three consecutive years were dominated by Proteobacteria (88%), followed by Firmicutes (10%). Pantoea was the most abundant genus and Pantoea agglomerans was identified as the only core taxon present in all samples. While bacterial diversity and species richness were similar across all accessions, the relative abundance varied especially in terms of low abundant and rare taxa. Seeds from four different breeding cycles (TLI C3, C5, C704, C801) showed significant differences in bacterial community composition and abundance. We found a decrease in the relative abundance of the functional genes nirK and nifH as well as a drop in bacterial diversity and richness. This was associated with a loss of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Bacilli, which could be partially compensated in offspring seeds, which have been cultivated at a new site. Interestingly, only a subset assigned to potentially beneficial bacteria, e.g. Pantoea, Kosakonia, and Pseudomonas, was transmitted to the next plant generation or shared with offspring seeds. CONCLUSION Overall, this study advances our understanding of the assembly and transmission of endophytic seed microorganisms in perennial intermediate wheatgrass and highlights the importance of considering the plant microbiome in future breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Michl
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | - Christophe David
- Department of Agroecosystems, Environment and Production, ISARA, 23 rue Jean Baldassini, Lyon Cedex 07, 69364, France
| | - Benjamin Dumont
- Plant Sciences Axis, Crop Science lab, ULiege - Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Gembloux, B- 5030, Belgium
| | | | - Frank Rasche
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics (Hans-Ruthenberg-Institute), University of Hohenheim, 70593, Stuttgart, Germany
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gabriele Berg
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, 8010, Austria
- Leibnitz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering, 14469, Potsdam, Germany
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Tomislav Cernava
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, 8010, Austria.
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO171BJ, UK.
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Abdelfattah A, Tack AJM, Lobato C, Wassermann B, Berg G. From seed to seed: the role of microbial inheritance in the assembly of the plant microbiome. Trends Microbiol 2023; 31:346-355. [PMID: 36481186 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2022.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Despite evidence that the microbiome extends host genetic and phenotypic traits, information on how the microbiome is transmitted and maintained across generations remains fragmented. For seed-bearing plants, seeds harbor a distinct microbiome and play a unique role by linking one generation to the next. Studies on microbial inheritance, a process we suggest including both vertical transmission and the subsequent migration of seed microorganisms to the new plant, thus become essential for our understanding of host evolutionary potential and host-microbiome coevolution. We propose dividing the inheritance process into three stages: (i) plant to seed, (ii) seed dormancy, and (iii) seed to seedling. We discuss the factors affecting the assembly of the microbiome during the three stages, highlight future research directions, and emphasize the implications of microbial inheritance for fundamental science and society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Abdelfattah
- Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Max-Eyth Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany; Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 20A, Stockholm, SE-106 91, Sweden; Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12, Graz 8010, Austria.
| | - Ayco J M Tack
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 20A, Stockholm, SE-106 91, Sweden
| | - Carolina Lobato
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Birgit Wassermann
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Gabriele Berg
- Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Max-Eyth Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany; Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12, Graz 8010, Austria; Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam OT Golm, Germany
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Liang D, Guo J, Hou F, Bowatte S. High level of conservation and diversity among the endophytic seed bacteriome in eight alpine grassland species growing at the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2021; 97:6246421. [PMID: 33885767 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiab060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Seed borne microorganisms play an important role in plant biology. Concerns have recently been raised about loss of seed microbial diversity by seed treatments, crop domestication and plant breeding. Information on the seed microbiomes of native plants growing in natural ecosystems is beneficial as they provide the best settings to detect indigenous plant microbe interactions. Here, we characterized the seed bacterial community of 8 native alpine grassland plants. First, seed bacterial diversity was examined using Illumina DNA sequencing, then 28 cultivable bacteria were isolated and potential functions were explored. Across 8 plant species, 343 different bacterial genera were identified as seed endophytes, 31 of those were found in all plant species, indicating a high level of conservation. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Chloroflexi were the top five dominant phyla. Plant species identity was a key determinant shaping the seed endophytic bacteriome. ACC deaminase activity, siderophores production and secretion of lytic enzymes were common functions shown by isolated bacteria. Our results demonstrate that highly diverse and beneficial bacterial populations are hosted by seeds of alpine grassland species to ensure the establishment of best bacterial symbionts for the next generation. This information is useful for crop improvement by reinstating beneficial seed microbial diversities for high-quality forage and crop seeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danni Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Jiayuguan West Roadd 768, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730020, China
| | - Jianxiu Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Jiayuguan West Roadd 768, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730020, China
| | - Fujiang Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Jiayuguan West Roadd 768, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730020, China
| | - Saman Bowatte
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Jiayuguan West Roadd 768, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730020, China.,AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Center, Tennent Drive, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
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