Host species and geographic location shape microbial diversity and functional potential in the conifer needle microbiome.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The aerial surface of plants, known as the phyllosphere, hosts a complex and dynamic microbiome that plays essential roles in plant health and environmental processes. While research has focused on root-associated microbiomes, the phyllosphere remains comparatively understudied, especially in forest ecosystems. Despite the global ecological dominance and importance of conifers, no previous study has applied shotgun metagenomics to their phyllosphere microbiomes.

Results

This study uses metagenomic sequencing to explore the microbial phyllosphere communities of subalpine Western conifer needle surfaces from 67 trees at six sites spanning the Rocky Mountains, including 31 limber pine, 18 Douglas fir, and 18 Engelmann spruce. Sites span ~ 1,075 km and nearly 10° lati

SUBMITTER: Bowers RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12574031 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature