Metagenomics of African Empogona and Tricalysia (Rubiaceae) reveals the presence of leaf endophytes

PeerJ

article

Brecht Verstraete¹  Steven Janssens¹  Petra De Block¹  Pieter Asselman³  Gabriela Méndez⁴  Serigne Ly⁶  Perla Hamon⁶  Romain Guyot⁶ 

[1] Meise Botanic Garden;Department of Biology;Department of Biology, Ghent University;Grupo de Investigación ,(BIOARN), Universidad Politécnica Salesiana;Facultad de ingenieria, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador;DIADE, Université de Montpellier;Department of Electronics and Automation, Universidad Autónoma de Manizales

关键词: Africa;    Bacteria;    Burkholderia;    Caballeronia;    Coffeeae;    Empogona;    Endophyte;    Leaf symbiosis;    Tricalysia;    Rubiaceae;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.15778

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundLeaf symbiosis is a phenomenon in which host plants of Rubiaceae interact with bacterial endophytes within their leaves. To date, it has been found in around 650 species belonging to eight genera in four tribes; however, the true extent in Rubiaceae remains unknown. Our aim is to investigate the possible occurrence of leaf endophytes in the African plant genera Empogona and Tricalysia and, if present, to establish their identity.MethodsTotal DNA was extracted from the leaves of four species of the Coffeeae tribe (Empogona congesta, Tricalysia hensii, T. lasiodelphys, and T. semidecidua) and sequenced. Bacterial reads were filtered out and assembled. Phylogenetic analysis of the endophytes was used to reveal their identity and their relationship with known symbionts.ResultsAll four species have non-nodulated leaf endophytes, which are identified as Caballeronia. The endophytes are distinct from each other but related to other nodulated and non-nodulated endophytes. An apparent phylogenetic or geographic pattern appears to be absent in endophytes or host plants. Caballeronia endophytes are present in the leaves of Empogona and Tricalysia, two genera not previously implicated in leaf symbiosis. This interaction is likely to be more widespread, and future discoveries are inevitable.

【 授权许可】

CC BY