Cytokinin-microbiome interactions regulate developmental functions

Rupali Gupta,Meirav Leibman-Markus,Maya Bar,Elie Jami,Dorin Elkabetz

doi:10.1186/s40793-022-00397-2

Rupali Gupta, Meirav Leibman-Markus + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-022-00397-2

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Abstract

BackgroundThe interaction of plants with the complex microbial networks that inhabit them is important for plant health. While the reliance of plants on their microbial inhabitants for defense against invading pathogens is well documented, the acquisition of data concerning the relationships between plant developmental stage or aging, and microbiome assembly, is still underway. The plant hormone cytokinin (CK) regulates various plant growth and developmental processes. Here, examining the relationships between plant development and microbiome assembly, we observed developmental-age dependent changes in the phyllopshere microbiome. We show that age-related shifts in microbiome content vary based on content of, or sensitivity to, CK.ResultsWe found a developmental age associated decline in microbial richness and diversity, accompanied by a decline in the presence of growth promoting and resistance inducing Bacilli in the phyllosphere. This decline was absent from CK-rich or CK-hypersensitive genotypes. Bacillus isolates we obtained from CK rich genotypes were found to alter the expression of developmental genes to support morphogenesis and alter the leaf developmental program when applied to seedlings, and enhance yield and agricultural productivity when applied to mature plants.ConclusionsOur results support the notion that CK supports developmental functions in part via the bacterial community.

Highlights

The interaction of plants with the complex microbial networks that inhabit them is important for plant health
Effects of plant developmental status on the phyllosphere microbiome To examine the effect of plant developmental stage on phyllosphere composition, microbial DNA was prepared from the phyllosphere of randomly interspersed tomato (Solanum lycopersicum M82) plants of various developmental ages
When examining community structure between the samples using weighted UniFrac distances, we observed a significant clustering of the samples based on their developmental stage, demonstrating that the distance among biological replicates were significantly smaller within groups between groups (Fig. 1A, B)

Summary

Introduction

The interaction of plants with the complex microbial networks that inhabit them is important for plant health. While the reliance of plants on their microbial inhabitants for defense against invading pathogens is well documented, the acquisition of data concerning the relationships between plant developmental stage or aging, and microbiome assembly, is still underway. The phyllosphere microbial community plays positive roles in host plant life. In terms of diversity and richness, the phyllosphere hosts complex microbial communities that are determined by several dynamic factors, such as plant age, plant genotype, environmental variables, geographical location and agricultural practices [5, 6]. Plant genotype has been identified to be an important driver that influences the structure of the phyllopshere microbiome [7, 8]. In addition to host genotype, geographic growth location has been defined as a dominant factor influencing community structure.

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