Speaker
Description
Microbial communities associated with plants play a crucial role in their host’s health and can influence essential physiological pathways. So far, the dynamic of microbiomes in plant populations from natural ecosystems is poorly described beyond studies in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Through the study of the grass species Agrostis capillaris, we aim to explore the dynamic of microbial communities and to characterize how vegetation management impact the microbiome diversity and composition. Through the analysis of the microbiome diversity, composition and community structure in leaves roots and soil, we looked at the impact of mowing and grazing on the A. capillaris microbiome for 3 consecutive years. Our results highlight a strong impact of the plant tissue on the diversity and microbial composition. Moreover, bacterial communities tend to be stable across 3-year periods, while the diversity and composition of fungal communities change. Finally, the community structure analysis allowed us to identify several fungal and bacterial pathogenic species among the most connected individuals in the leaf microbiome communities, including species of Zymoseptoria. This study represents a first step for investigating the mechanisms shaping the plant microbiome in natural ecosystems, as well as for identifying potential future pathogenic species that could threaten crops.
