Leaf and root microbiome signatures of gray mangrove trees in the Red Sea
Mangroves persist under strong environmental constraints with support from microbes. Although microbial communities differ among mangrove compartments, their assembly mechanisms and compartment-specific functional signatures remain poorly resolved. Here, we combine peptide nucleic acid-clamping coupled with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and genome-resolved metagenomics to investigate the…
Mangrove trees thrive in challenging environments thanks to the support of their microbial communities. While microbial communities vary across different parts of mangroves, the processes behind their assembly and their unique functional traits are still unclear. Researchers have now analyzed the microbial communities linked to the leaves and roots of gray mangrove trees in the Red Sea using advanced genetic sequencing techniques.
The study reveals that the phyllosphere, or the microbial community on the leaves, shows signs of homogeneous selection and homogenizing dispersal. This layer supports novel prokaryotic lineages that may produce rhodopsins, enzymes breaking down plant polysaccharides, and a metabolite called gamma-aminobutyric acid, which helps the tree tolerate high salt levels.
Belowground, genomes related to Desulfobacterales and Sedimenticolaceae taxa are abundant, hinting at their potential to participate in sulfur- and nitrogen-cycling processes. When compared to genomes from the roots of cordgrass, a related plant species, the study shows that the gray mangrove tree influences the selection of Sedimenticolaceae species with metabolic profiles that are similar.
This comprehensive study offers valuable insights into the microbial biology of gray mangrove trees, shedding light on their diversity, ecology, and the potential functional roles of their aboveground and belowground microbiomes.
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