Characterization of bacterial diversity associated with a Salar de Atacama native plant Nitrophila atacamensis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The rhizosphere microbiota is vital for the modulation of plant growth and adaptation, especially in extreme environments. Nitrophila atacamensis is an endemic and endangered plant species in the Salar de Atacama, Chile. However, the specific relationships between N. atacamensis and its microbiota remain largely unknown. We analyzed the bacterial communities in the rhizosphere and bulk soils associated with N. atacamensis across eight sites, including Aguas de Quelana and Soncor, which are two distinct hydrogeological systems.

Results

We used high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to classify 886 different bacterial genera from 13,138 unique operational taxonomic units, distributed between rhizosphere and bulk soil samples. Microbial composition and diver

SUBMITTER: Zamora-Leiva L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12329874 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature