The microbiome of Riccia liverworts is an important reservoir for microbial diversity in temporary agricultural crusts
Abstract Background The microbiota of liverworts provides an interesting model for plant symbioses; however, their microbiome assembly is not yet understood. Here, we assessed specific factors that shape microbial communities associated with Riccia temporary agricultural crusts in harvested fields b...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Environmental Microbiome |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-023-00501-0 |
| _version_ | 1797811259050033152 |
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| author | Wisnu Adi Wicaksono Bettina Semler Martina Pöltl Christian Berg Gabriele Berg Tomislav Cernava |
| author_facet | Wisnu Adi Wicaksono Bettina Semler Martina Pöltl Christian Berg Gabriele Berg Tomislav Cernava |
| author_sort | Wisnu Adi Wicaksono |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The microbiota of liverworts provides an interesting model for plant symbioses; however, their microbiome assembly is not yet understood. Here, we assessed specific factors that shape microbial communities associated with Riccia temporary agricultural crusts in harvested fields by investigating bacterial, fungal and archaeal communities in thalli and adhering soil from different field sites in Styria and Burgenland, Austria combining qPCR analyses, amplicon sequencing and advanced microscopy. Results Riccia spec. div. was colonized by a very high abundance of bacteria (1010 16S rRNA gene copies per g of thallus) as well as archaea and fungi (108 ITS copies per g of thallus). Each Riccia thallus contain approx. 1000 prokaryotic and fungal ASVs. The field type was the main driver for the enrichment of fungal taxa, likely due to an imprint on soil microbiomes by the cultivated crop plants. This was shown by a higher fungal richness and different fungal community compositions comparing liverwort samples collected from pumpkin fields, with those from corn fields. In contrast, bacterial communities linked to liverworts are highly specialized and the soil attached to them is not a significant source of these bacteria. Specifically, enriched Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Methylobacteria suggest a symbiotic interaction. Intriguingly, compared to the surrounding soil, the thallus samples were shown to enrich several well-known bacterial and fungal phytopathogens indicating an undescribed role of liverworts as potential reservoirs of crop pathogens. Conclusions Our results provide evidence that a stable bacterial community but varying fungal communities are colonizing liverwort thalli. Post-harvest, temporary agricultural biocrusts are important reservoirs for microbial biodiversity but they have to be considered as potential reservoirs for pathogens as well. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:21:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-44596102c77e4f56ae77b0e37129833e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2524-6372 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:21:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Microbiome |
| spelling | doaj.art-44596102c77e4f56ae77b0e37129833e2023-06-04T11:38:56ZengBMCEnvironmental Microbiome2524-63722023-06-0118111410.1186/s40793-023-00501-0The microbiome of Riccia liverworts is an important reservoir for microbial diversity in temporary agricultural crustsWisnu Adi Wicaksono0Bettina Semler1Martina Pöltl2Christian Berg3Gabriele Berg4Tomislav Cernava5Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of TechnologyInstitute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of TechnologyInstitute of Biology, University of GrazInstitute of Biology, University of GrazInstitute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of TechnologyInstitute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of TechnologyAbstract Background The microbiota of liverworts provides an interesting model for plant symbioses; however, their microbiome assembly is not yet understood. Here, we assessed specific factors that shape microbial communities associated with Riccia temporary agricultural crusts in harvested fields by investigating bacterial, fungal and archaeal communities in thalli and adhering soil from different field sites in Styria and Burgenland, Austria combining qPCR analyses, amplicon sequencing and advanced microscopy. Results Riccia spec. div. was colonized by a very high abundance of bacteria (1010 16S rRNA gene copies per g of thallus) as well as archaea and fungi (108 ITS copies per g of thallus). Each Riccia thallus contain approx. 1000 prokaryotic and fungal ASVs. The field type was the main driver for the enrichment of fungal taxa, likely due to an imprint on soil microbiomes by the cultivated crop plants. This was shown by a higher fungal richness and different fungal community compositions comparing liverwort samples collected from pumpkin fields, with those from corn fields. In contrast, bacterial communities linked to liverworts are highly specialized and the soil attached to them is not a significant source of these bacteria. Specifically, enriched Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Methylobacteria suggest a symbiotic interaction. Intriguingly, compared to the surrounding soil, the thallus samples were shown to enrich several well-known bacterial and fungal phytopathogens indicating an undescribed role of liverworts as potential reservoirs of crop pathogens. Conclusions Our results provide evidence that a stable bacterial community but varying fungal communities are colonizing liverwort thalli. Post-harvest, temporary agricultural biocrusts are important reservoirs for microbial biodiversity but they have to be considered as potential reservoirs for pathogens as well.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-023-00501-0BacteriaFungiMethylobacteriaLiverwortsMicrobiomeCrop history |
| spellingShingle | Wisnu Adi Wicaksono Bettina Semler Martina Pöltl Christian Berg Gabriele Berg Tomislav Cernava The microbiome of Riccia liverworts is an important reservoir for microbial diversity in temporary agricultural crusts Environmental Microbiome Bacteria Fungi Methylobacteria Liverworts Microbiome Crop history |
| title | The microbiome of Riccia liverworts is an important reservoir for microbial diversity in temporary agricultural crusts |
| title_full | The microbiome of Riccia liverworts is an important reservoir for microbial diversity in temporary agricultural crusts |
| title_fullStr | The microbiome of Riccia liverworts is an important reservoir for microbial diversity in temporary agricultural crusts |
| title_full_unstemmed | The microbiome of Riccia liverworts is an important reservoir for microbial diversity in temporary agricultural crusts |
| title_short | The microbiome of Riccia liverworts is an important reservoir for microbial diversity in temporary agricultural crusts |
| title_sort | microbiome of riccia liverworts is an important reservoir for microbial diversity in temporary agricultural crusts |
| topic | Bacteria Fungi Methylobacteria Liverworts Microbiome Crop history |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-023-00501-0 |
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