Experimental evolution of Bacillus subtilis on Arabidopsis thaliana roots reveals fast adaptation and improved root colonization.

ABSTRACT: Bacillus subtilis is known to promote plant growth and protect plants against disease. B. subtilis rapidly adapts to Arabidopsis thaliana root colonization, as evidenced by improved root colonizers already after 12 consecutive transfers between seedlings in a hydroponic setup. Re-sequencing of single evolved isolates and endpoint populations revealed mutations in genes related to different bacterial traits, in accordance with evolved isolates displaying increased root colonization associated with robust biofilm formation in response to the plant polysaccharide xylan and impaired motility. Interestingly, evolved isolates suffered a fitness disadvantage in a non-selective environment, demonstrating an evolutionary cost of adaptation to the plant root. Finally, increased

SUBMITTER: Nordgaard M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9157203 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature