Mycelium-mediated transfer of water and nutrients stimulates bacterial activity in dry and oligotrophic environments.

ABSTRACT: Fungal-bacterial interactions are highly diverse and contribute to many ecosystem processes. Their emergence under common environmental stress scenarios however, remains elusive. Here we use a synthetic microbial ecosystem based on the germination of Bacillus subtilis spores to examine whether fungal and fungal-like (oomycete) mycelia reduce bacterial water and nutrient stress in an otherwise dry and nutrient-poor microhabitat. We find that the presence of mycelia enables the germination and subsequent growth of bacterial spores near the hyphae. Using a combination of time of flight- and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF- and nanoSIMS) coupled with stable isotope labelling, we link spore germination to hyphal transfer of water, carbon and nitrogen. Our study provides direct ex

SUBMITTER: Worrich A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5467244 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature