Abstract

The halophytes have evolved several strategies to survive in saline environments; however, an additional support from their associated microbiota helps combat adverse conditions. Hence, our driving interests to investigate the endophytic bacterial community richness, diversity, and composition associated to roots of Salicornia europaea from two test sites with different origins of soil salinity. We assumed that salinity will have a negative effect on the diversity of endophytes but simultaneously will permit the high occurrence of halophylic bacteria. Further, to establish the role of the host and its external environment in determining the endophytic diversity, we analyzed the physico-chemical parameters of root zone soil and the concentration of salt ions in the plant roots. The results based on the Miseq Illumina sequencing approach revealed a higher number of endophytic bacterial OTUs at naturally saline test site with a higher level of soil salinity. Proteobacteria and Bacteriodetes were the dominant endophytic phyla at both analyzed sites; additionally, the high occurrence of Planctomycetes and Acidobacteria at more saline site and the occurrence of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Chloroflexi at less saline site were recorded. The salinity in the root zone soil was crucial in structuring the endophytic community of S. europaea, and the significant prevalence of representatives from the phyla Deltaproteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Caldithrix, Fibrobacteres, and Verrucomicrobia at the more saline test site suggest domination of halophylic bacteria with potential role in mitigation of salt stress of halophytes.

Highlights

  • IntroductionS. europaea is considered to be an appropriate model plant to study response to salt stress and efficiency of desalination processes (e.g., Lokhande and Suprasanna 2012; Lv et al 2012; Rozema and Schat 2013; Feng et al 2015)

  • Halophytes are a small group of plants, which are able to grow and develop in soils with high levels of salinity (Flowers and Colmer Flowers and Responsible editor: Diane PurchaseElectronic supplementary material The online version of this article contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.Colmer 2008)

  • We assessed the effect of soil salinity and the physico-chemical parameters of the root zone soil that may be involved in structuring the diversity of endophytic bacteria in the roots of S. europaea growing at two saline sites

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Summary

Introduction

S. europaea is considered to be an appropriate model plant to study response to salt stress and efficiency of desalination processes (e.g., Lokhande and Suprasanna 2012; Lv et al 2012; Rozema and Schat 2013; Feng et al 2015). This halophyte occurs in Europe, South Africa, South Asia, and North America, especially near coastlines, tidal floodways, and salt lakes (Rhee et al 2009; Jafari et al 2012). Its therapeutic applications, including antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, hypocholesterolemic, and anti-aging properties

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