Plant Growth-Promoting Methylobacteria Selectively Increase the Biomass of Biotechnologically Relevant Microalgae
Microalgae, a diverse group of single-celled organisms exhibiting versatile traits, find broad applications in industry. However, high production costs require further efforts to optimize their production and to enhance biomass yields. In the present study, co-occurrence of algae and methylobacteria...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00427/full |
| _version_ | 1817987535057453056 |
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| author | Lisa Krug Lisa Krug Christina Morauf Christina Donat Henry Müller Tomislav Cernava Gabriele Berg |
| author_facet | Lisa Krug Lisa Krug Christina Morauf Christina Donat Henry Müller Tomislav Cernava Gabriele Berg |
| author_sort | Lisa Krug |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microalgae, a diverse group of single-celled organisms exhibiting versatile traits, find broad applications in industry. However, high production costs require further efforts to optimize their production and to enhance biomass yields. In the present study, co-occurrence of algae and methylobacteria was observed when naturally occurring microalgae biofilms were subjected to 16S rRNA gene fragment amplicon sequencing. This bacterial group is so far less explored than other microalgae-associated bacteria in terms of mutualistic relationships that might be exploitable for biotechnological applications. In order to assess the potential of four plant growth-promoting strains from the genus Methylobacterium for increased algae biomass production, co-cultivation experiments were conducted with three industrially relevant microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus vacuolatus, and Haematococcus lacustris). For S. vacuolatus and H. lacustris, a significant increase in algal biomass formation of 1.3-fold to up to 14-fold was observed after 7 days of co-incubation. Visualization of mixed cultures using confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed a high abundance of methylobacteria in the phycosphere of H. lacustris and S. vacuolatus, visually attached to the algae’s surface forming a biofilm-like assemblage. Genome analyses revealed that features attributable to enhanced algal growth include genes involved in the synthesis of vitamins, siderophores and plant hormones. Our results provide evidence for the constructability of novel symbiotic algae-bacteria relationships with inter-kingdom supportive capacities, underlining the potential of microbial consortia as promising tool for sustainable biotechnology and agriculture. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T00:22:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-38426637e87b4b3fb8644eff3b135550 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T00:22:38Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-38426637e87b4b3fb8644eff3b1355502022-12-22T02:22:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2020-03-011110.3389/fmicb.2020.00427511712Plant Growth-Promoting Methylobacteria Selectively Increase the Biomass of Biotechnologically Relevant MicroalgaeLisa Krug0Lisa Krug1Christina Morauf2Christina Donat3Henry Müller4Tomislav Cernava5Gabriele Berg6Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austriaacib GmbH, Graz, Austriabio-ferm GmbH, Getzersdorf, Austriabio-ferm GmbH, Getzersdorf, AustriaInstitute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, AustriaInstitute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, AustriaInstitute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, AustriaMicroalgae, a diverse group of single-celled organisms exhibiting versatile traits, find broad applications in industry. However, high production costs require further efforts to optimize their production and to enhance biomass yields. In the present study, co-occurrence of algae and methylobacteria was observed when naturally occurring microalgae biofilms were subjected to 16S rRNA gene fragment amplicon sequencing. This bacterial group is so far less explored than other microalgae-associated bacteria in terms of mutualistic relationships that might be exploitable for biotechnological applications. In order to assess the potential of four plant growth-promoting strains from the genus Methylobacterium for increased algae biomass production, co-cultivation experiments were conducted with three industrially relevant microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus vacuolatus, and Haematococcus lacustris). For S. vacuolatus and H. lacustris, a significant increase in algal biomass formation of 1.3-fold to up to 14-fold was observed after 7 days of co-incubation. Visualization of mixed cultures using confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed a high abundance of methylobacteria in the phycosphere of H. lacustris and S. vacuolatus, visually attached to the algae’s surface forming a biofilm-like assemblage. Genome analyses revealed that features attributable to enhanced algal growth include genes involved in the synthesis of vitamins, siderophores and plant hormones. Our results provide evidence for the constructability of novel symbiotic algae-bacteria relationships with inter-kingdom supportive capacities, underlining the potential of microbial consortia as promising tool for sustainable biotechnology and agriculture.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00427/fullmicroalgaemicrobiotagrowth-promotionmethylobacteriasymbiosisalgae–bacteria interactions |
| spellingShingle | Lisa Krug Lisa Krug Christina Morauf Christina Donat Henry Müller Tomislav Cernava Gabriele Berg Plant Growth-Promoting Methylobacteria Selectively Increase the Biomass of Biotechnologically Relevant Microalgae Frontiers in Microbiology microalgae microbiota growth-promotion methylobacteria symbiosis algae–bacteria interactions |
| title | Plant Growth-Promoting Methylobacteria Selectively Increase the Biomass of Biotechnologically Relevant Microalgae |
| title_full | Plant Growth-Promoting Methylobacteria Selectively Increase the Biomass of Biotechnologically Relevant Microalgae |
| title_fullStr | Plant Growth-Promoting Methylobacteria Selectively Increase the Biomass of Biotechnologically Relevant Microalgae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plant Growth-Promoting Methylobacteria Selectively Increase the Biomass of Biotechnologically Relevant Microalgae |
| title_short | Plant Growth-Promoting Methylobacteria Selectively Increase the Biomass of Biotechnologically Relevant Microalgae |
| title_sort | plant growth promoting methylobacteria selectively increase the biomass of biotechnologically relevant microalgae |
| topic | microalgae microbiota growth-promotion methylobacteria symbiosis algae–bacteria interactions |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00427/full |
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