Tissue specificity of plant microbiomes and the role of seed-associated microbiota
A. SESSITSCH (1), B. Mitter (1), C. Escobar-Rodríguez (1), N. Pfaffenbichler (1), S. Compant (1), L. Antonielli (2) (1) AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Austria; (2) AIT Austrian Instutute of Technology, Austria

Plants are associated with highly complex microbiomes. The rhizosphere is a hot spot of microbial diversity and activity due to the availability of root exudates, which serve as nutrients. Several rhizosphere colonizers may also enter roots and colonize as endopyhtes intercellular spaces and xylem vessels. Once established within roots, endophytes may systemically colonize other plant tissues such as stems, leaves and even reproductive organs. Working with different plant species such as rice, maize and the model plant Setaria viridis, we have found highly tissue-specific microbial communities indicating high sensitivity and response to the distinct physiological conditions encountered in different plant tissues. Of particular interest are seed endophytes. They show rather low complexity, but represent important members of the next generation plant and may be highly important for early plant establishment. It has been questioned, whether bacterial seed endophytes are vertically transmitted or whether they vary in their composition and derive from the rhizosphere environment. To answer this question we analysed microbiomes associated with different tissues of Setaria viridis and S. pumila collected at different locations in Austria. We further addressed the question how seed endophyte communities can be manipulated and developed an approach to integrate a strain of interest into seed with the aim to establish in next generation plants.


Abstract Number: C19-1
Session Type: Concurrent