Abstract
BackgroundDespite all the benefits assigned to the genetically modified plants, there are still no sufficient data available in literature concerning the possible effects on the microbial communities associated with these plants. Therefore, this study was aimed at examining the effects of the genetic modifications of two transgenic maize genotypes (MON810 – expressing the insecticidal Bt-toxin and TC1507 – expressing the insecticidal Bt-toxin and the herbicide resistance PAT [phosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase]) on their endophytic microbial communities, in comparison to the microbial community found in the near-isogenic non-transgenic maize (control).ResultsThe structure of the endophytic communities (Bacteria, Archaea and fungi) and their composition (Bacteria) were evaluated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and the construction of clone libraries, respectively. DGGE analysis and the clone libraries of the bacterial community showed that genotype TC1507 slightly differed from the other two genotypes. Genotype TC1507 showed a higher diversity within its endophytic bacterial community when compared to the other genotypes. Although some bacterial genera were found in all genotypes, such as the genera Burkholderia, Achromobacer and Stenotrophomonas, some were unique to genotype TC1507. Moreover, OTUs associated with Enterobacter predominated only in TC1507 clone libraries.ConclusionThe endophytic bacterial community of the maize genotype TC1507 differed from the communities of the maize genotype MON810 and of their near-isogenic parental genotypes (non-Bt or control). The differences observed among the maize genotypes studied may be associated with insertion of the gene coding for the protein PAT present only in the transgenic genotype TC1507.
Highlights
Despite all the benefits assigned to the genetically modified plants, there are still no sufficient data available in literature concerning the possible effects on the microbial communities associated with these plants
Archaeal and fungal communities in the roots of maize genotypes analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) The three maize genotypes were sampled after 90 days of growing in Cerrado soil, during the raining season in Brazil
Samples obtained from the control and MON810 were closer between each other than those obtained from TC1507 (Figure 1A)
Summary
Despite all the benefits assigned to the genetically modified plants, there are still no sufficient data available in literature concerning the possible effects on the microbial communities associated with these plants. Endophytic microorganisms are conventionally defined as bacteria, archaea or fungi that inhabit plant tissues for at least a period in their life cycle, and cause no negative effects on their hosts [1]. They are often described as an important modulating agent of plants’ fitness, promoting the health of the host plants and their ability to adapt to. It is well known that biotic (plant genotype, taxonomic identity and specific plant traits) and abiotic (soil characteristics, temperature, seasonality, among others) characteristics can influence da Silva et al BMC Microbiology (2014) 14:332 the assembly of the endophytic community [5,6]. Agricultural management practices introduced to the environment, such as herbicide and pesticide applications, crop management and genetically modified (GM) plants, can influence plantmicrobe interactions and may result on a variation of the diversity, structure and richness of the microbial community that will live inside the plant
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