Geology and climate influence rhizobiome composition of the phenotypically diverse tropical tree Tabebuia heterophylla.

ABSTRACT: Plant-associated microbial communities have diverse phenotypic effects on their hosts that are only beginning to be revealed. We hypothesized that morpho-physiological variations in the tropical tree Tabebuia heterophylla, observed on different geological substrates, arise in part due to microbial processes in the rhizosphere. We characterized the microbiota of the rhizosphere and soil communities associated with T. heterophylla trees in high and low altitude sites (with varying temperature and precipitation) of volcanic, karst and serpentine geologies across Puerto Rico. We sampled 6 areas across the island in three geological materials including volcanic, serpentine and karst soils. Collection was done in 2 elevations (>450m and 0-300m high), that included 3 trees for each site and 4 rep

SUBMITTER: Ortiz Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7138329 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature