Seed-Vectored Microbes: Their Roles in Improving Seedling Fitness and Competitor Plant Suppression

Review: Endophytic microbes and their potential applications in crop management

“…The symbiotic relationships between a host plant and its endophytic microbes are unique, which can become a liability for the plant . When introduced into plants other than their adapted host, some endophytic microbes can cause growth repression and death in seedlings . ‘Endobiome interference’ occurs where entry of non‐adapted microbial endophytes into plant cells and tissues results in repressed plant growth and disruption of functions of the endophyte‐host symbiosis .…”

“…‘Endobiome interference’ occurs where entry of non‐adapted microbial endophytes into plant cells and tissues results in repressed plant growth and disruption of functions of the endophyte‐host symbiosis . In a case of endobiome interference, a fungal endophyte ( Aureobasidium pullulans ), isolated from roots of a weedy yet native species Froelichia gracilis (Amaranthaceae), was introduced by seedling inoculation into the cells and tissues of seedling roots of the exotic plant species Amaranthus hypochondriacus , resulting in growth repression of the seedlings . Further, the bacterial endophyte Micrococcus luteus , originally isolated from tomato seeds and seedlings, was transferred to seedlings where they entered into seedling root cells of multiple plant species (including Phragmites australis , Poa annua , Fallopia japonica , Rumex crispus, and Taraxacum officionale) , reducing native endophytic bacteria and reducing seedling growth.…”

“…56 'Endobiome interference' occurs where entry of non-adapted microbial endophytes into plant cells and tissues results in repressed plant growth and disruption of functions of the endophyte-host symbiosis. 56 In a case of endobiome interference, a fungal endophyte (Aureobasidium pullulans), isolated from roots of a weedy yet native species Froelichia gracilis (Amaranthaceae), was introduced by seedling inoculation into the cells and tissues of seedling roots of the exotic plant species Amaranthus hypochondriacus, resulting in growth repression of the seedlings. 56 57 Recently, an agenda was developed to evaluate how the microbial community could be targeted as a form of control for non-native Phragmites australis (common reed), a strategy that could be adapted for other invasive and weedy plant species.…”

“…56 In a case of endobiome interference, a fungal endophyte (Aureobasidium pullulans), isolated from roots of a weedy yet native species Froelichia gracilis (Amaranthaceae), was introduced by seedling inoculation into the cells and tissues of seedling roots of the exotic plant species Amaranthus hypochondriacus, resulting in growth repression of the seedlings. 56 57 Recently, an agenda was developed to evaluate how the microbial community could be targeted as a form of control for non-native Phragmites australis (common reed), a strategy that could be adapted for other invasive and weedy plant species. 57 The symbiotic relationships with its endophytes give the non-native P. australis a competitive edge over native species, 57 but the location and roles of individual microbes within the plant are still unclear.…”

Peer Review #2 of "16S rRNA metagenomic analysis of the bacterial community associated with turf grass seeds from low moisture and high moisture climates (v0.2)"

“…Paenibacillus, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, Pantoea. The seed microbes are important because they stimulate seedling development, increase stress tolerance in seedlings and protect seedlings from disease (Verma et al, 2017(Verma et al, , 2018White et al, 2018White et al, , 2019. Thus, a more diverse bacterial community on HM seeds may provide hosts with more microbial resources to utilize for plant development and stress tolerance.…”