Active root-inhabiting microbes identified by rapid incorporation of plant-derived carbon into RNA.

ABSTRACT: Plant roots harbor a large diversity of microorganisms that have an essential role in ecosystem functioning. To better understand the level of intimacy of root-inhabiting microbes such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria, we provided (13)CO(2) to plants at atmospheric concentration during a 5-h pulse. We expected microbes dependent on a carbon flux from their host plant to become rapidly labeled. We showed that a wide variety of microbes occurred in roots, mostly previously unknown. Strikingly, the greatest part of this unsuspected diversity corresponded to active primary consumers. We found 17 bacterial phylotypes co-occurring within roots of a single plant, including five potentially new phylotypes. Fourteen phylotypes were heavily labeled with the (13)C. Eight were phylogenetic

SUBMITTER: Vandenkoornhuyse P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2040396 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature