Abstract
Environmental heterogeneity is a major driver of plant‐microbiome assembly, but the specific climate and soil conditions that are involved remain poorly understood. To better understand plant microbiome formation, we examined the bacteria and fungi that colonize wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) plants in North American and European populations. Using transects as replicates, we found strong overlap among the environmental conditions that best predict the overall similarity and richness of the plant microbiome, including soil nutrients that replicate across continents. Temperature is also among the main predictors of diversity for both bacteria and fungi in both the leaf and, unexpectedly, the root microbiome. Our results indicate that a small number of environmental factors, and their interactions, consistently contribute to plant microbiome formation, which has implications for predicting the contributions of microbes to plant productivity in ever‐changing environments.
Highlights
Plant-microbial communities play a part in host nutrient uptake (Castrillo et al, 2017; Hiruma et al, 2016), responses to abiotic stress such as drought (Xu et al, 2018) and interactions with pathogens (Durán et al, 2018; Mendes et al, 2011) and herbivores (Schardl, Leuchtmann, & Spiering, 2004)
To better understand plant microbiome formation, we examined the bacteria and fungi that colonize wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) plants in North American and European populations
We found strong overlap among the environmental conditions that best predict the overall similarity and richness of the plant microbiome, including soil nutrients that replicate across continents
Summary
Plant-microbial communities play a part in host nutrient uptake (Castrillo et al, 2017; Hiruma et al, 2016), responses to abiotic stress such as drought (Xu et al, 2018) and interactions with pathogens (Durán et al, 2018; Mendes et al, 2011) and herbivores (Schardl, Leuchtmann, & Spiering, 2004). The factors that shape leaf and root microbiota seem to differ (Bergelson, Mittelstrass, & Horton, 2019; Wagner et al, 2016) but both communities are influenced by the local environment (Thiergart et al, 2020; Vorholt, 2012), seasonal variability (Walters et al, 2018) and the order in which taxa colonize the microbiome (Carlström et al, 2019; Fukami et al, 2010; Werner & Kiers, 2015). With extensive environmental variability across its distribution, F. vesca is an ideal model for investigating the ecological and environmental factors that influence leaf- and root-microbial communities. All of the soil samples were extracted using PowerSoil DNA Isolation kits (Qiagen). The samples processed using PowerPlant kits were loaded into the 96-well plates before the first centrifugation step
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
