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Inheriting a plant microbiome through seeds

news/tmb/2022/a-journey-across-gener.jpg" data-src="https://scx2.b-cdn.net/gfx/news/2022/a-journey-across-gener.jpg" data-sub-html="A conceptual figure depicting the process of microbial inheritance in plants. The process encompasses three stages as indicated at the top of the figure: (1) from plant to seed, (2) dormancy, and (3) from seed to seedling. The first stage involves both sexual and asexual transmission. Processes highlighted are as follows. (A) the sexual and asexual transmission of microorganisms, as depicted in detail in the magnified circle. (B) The influence of environmental microorganisms and pollinators on the floral and seed microbiome. (C) The assembly and within-seed distribution of the microbiome from embryogenesis until seed maturation. (D) The interaction of the seed microbiome with the environmental microorganisms during dormancy, including those microorganisms associated with seed-dispersing animals and postharvest treatments. (E) The transmission route of seed microorganisms to the seedling phyllosphere (red dots) and roots (blue dots), as well as the transient microbiome that does not migrate out of the seed (black dots). Broken gray arrows below and above the seedling indicate the colonization of the seedling by the environmental microbiome. Although horizontal acquisition from the surrounding environment is not part of microbial inheritance, it is depicted here since seeds naturally germinate in the soil and the inherited microbiome will interact with the environmental microbiome to shape the seedling’s microbiome. Credit: Trends in microbiology (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2022.10.009″>

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A conceptual figure illustrating the process of microbial inheritance in plants. The process has three stages as shown in the figure above: (1) plant to seed, (2) dormancy, and (3) seed to seed. The first stage includes both sexual and asexual transmission. The operating characteristics are as follows. (a) Sexual and asexual transmission of microorganisms, as detailed in the enlarged circles. (b) Effects of environmental and pollinating microorganisms on flower and seed microbiomes. (c) Intra-seed aggregation and distribution of the microbiome from embryo development to seed maturation. (d) Seed microbiome interactions with environmental microorganisms during dormancy, including microorganisms associated with seed dispersal and postharvest treatment. (e) Pathways of transmission of microorganisms from seeds to overwintering plant epithelium (red dots) and roots (blue dots), as well as transient microbiomes that do not migrate beyond the seed (black dots). Gray dotted arrows below and above the seedling indicate colonization of the seedling’s environmental microbiome. Although horizontal acquisition from the surrounding environment is not part of microbial inheritance, it is described here because seeds germinate naturally in soil and the inherited microbiomes will interact with environmental microbiomes to form nursery microbiomes. associated with it: Trends in microbiology (2022). doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2022.10.009

What distinguishes us most strongly from other organisms, genes or the environment? Only recently have researchers been able to demonstrate experimentally that even microorganisms can be transmitted from one generation of plants to the next via seeds.


In a recently published open access article in the journal Trends in microbiologyScientists are currently studying the process of germline inheritance seed Go into more detail and determine the factors that significantly affect factory assembly microbiome. With their seminal work, the authors have set an important milestone in microbiome research.

Experimental studies prove it plant Not only do they inherit genetic traits with their seeds, they also inherit a complex microbiome made up of fungi, bacteria and archaea.

“Knowledge of microbial inheritance opens up possibilities for researchers around the world to develop an entirely new understanding of nature and expand our ability to influence it. Plant microbes have a significant impact on plant health, resistance, growth and even nutrient uptake. Ahmed Abdel-Fattah, leader of the microbiome management group at the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomics and first author of the publication, “We know very little about how these communities of microorganisms find their way from one generation of plants to the next. next.”

In 2021 Dr. Abdel-Fattah and a team of scientists were able to experimentally demonstrate microbial inheritance through seeds for the first time. So he took a closer look at microbial inheritance in plants with colleagues from Stockholm University, Graz University of Technology and the University of Potsdam.

In their article, they divide the inheritance process into three stages: “from plant to seed”, “seed”. to comeand “Seed to Seed” and explain the factors affecting spore transmission at each stage.

In the first phase, “from plant to plant”, the plant species, its environmental conditions during seed maturation and the methods of reproduction are some of the influencing factors. In the second stage, the type and design of “seed dormancy”, among other factors, play a central role, as the microbiomes of seeds that need to be cached behave differently from the microbiomes of seeds that normally precipitate first. to start germinating.

On occasion germinationIn turn, the microorganisms must find their way into the appropriate plant tissues, where transmission routes exist DNA It can be important.

“If we understand how microbial genetics work and how we can influence it, there is huge application potential. This knowledge can help restore ecosystems and improve agriculture, for example through relocation Microorganisms to the seed either through coating or by subjecting the microbiome to storage conditions or work processes,” Dr Abdel-Fattah said concluded.

further information:
Ahmed Abdel-Fattah et al., From Seed to Seed: The Role of Microbial Genetics in Plant Microbiome Assembly, Trends in microbiology (2022). doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2022.10.009

Disediakan oleh Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy eV

CitationJourney: A Journey Through the Generations: Inheritance of the Plant Microbiome by Seed (2022, 5 Desember) Diambil 5 Desember 2022 dari https://phys.org/news/2022-12-journey-generations-inheritance-microbiome-seed . html

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