Journal Article

Structure and Functions of Endophytic Bacterial Communities Associated with Sphagnum Mosses and Their Drivers in Two Different Nutrient Types of Peatlands

Xue, Dan, Chen, Xuhui, Qiu, Qing, Wang, Yue, Chen, Huai

2024

Overview

Sphagnum mosses are keystone plant species in the peatland ecosystems that play a crucial role in the formation of peat, which shelters a broad diversity of endophytic bacteria with important ecological functions. In particular, methanotrophic and nitrogen-fixing endophytic bacteria benefit Sphagnum moss hosts by providing both carbon and nitrogen. However, the composition and abundance of endophytic bacteria from different species of Sphagnum moss in peatlands of different nutrient statuses and their drivers remain unclear. This study used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to examine endophytic bacterial communities in Sphagnum mosses and measured the activity of methanotrophic microbial by the 13 C-CH 4 oxidation rate. According to the results, the endophytic bacterial community structure varied among Sphagnum moss species and Sphagnum capillifolium had the highest endophytic bacterial alpha diversity. Moreover, chlorophyll, phenol oxidase, carbon contents, and water retention capacity strongly shaped the communities of endophytic bacteria. Finally, Sphagnum palustre in Hani (SP) had a higher methane oxidation rate than S. palustre in Taishanmiao. This result is associated with the higher average relative abundance of Methyloferula an obligate methanotroph in SP. In summary, this work highlights the effects of Sphagnum moss characteristics on the endophytic bacteriome. The endophytic bacteriome is important for Sphagnum moss productivity, as well as for carbon and nitrogen cycles in Sphagnum moss peatlands.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Abundance / Aquatic plants / Bacteria / Bacteria - genetics / bacterial communities / bacteriome / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Bryophyta / Carbon / Carbon cycle / Chlorophyll / Community structure / Ecological function / Ecology / Ecosystem / Endophytes / Gene sequencing / genes / Geoecology/Natural Processes / Keystone species / Life Sciences / methane / methanotrophs / Methyloferula / Microbial Ecology / Microbiology / Microorganisms / monophenol monooxygenase / Mosses / mosses and liverworts / Nature Conservation / Nitrogen / Nitrogen cycle / Nitrogen fixation / Nitrogenation / Nutrients / Oxidation / Oxidation rate / Peat / Peatlands / Phenoloxidase / Phenols / Plant species / Relative abundance / Retention capacity / RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics / rRNA 16S / species / species diversity / Sphagnopsida / Sphagnum / Sphagnum palustre / water holding capacity / Water Quality/Water Pollution