Phytoplasma-induced alterations in endophytic bacterial communities in <i>Paulownia</i>: implications for witches' broom.

ABSTRACT: Paulownia witches' broom (PaWB), caused by phytoplasma, threatens global Paulownia cultivation. Although phytoplasma is known to manipulate host physiology, their influence on the plant-associated microbiome, particularly at the tissue-specific level, remains unclear. Here, we integrated scanning electron microscopy, nested PCR, and 16S rRNA sequencing to investigate the morphological characteristics, phytoplasma infection, and bacterial communities across four compartments (leaves, branches, roots, and rhizosphere) in healthy, symptomatic, and asymptomatic P. fortunei trees. We found that PaWB induces pronounced external morphological abnormalities without significantly altering internal tissue structures. Notably, phytoplasma was detected not only in symptomatic tissues but

SUBMITTER: Tang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12502696 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature