Trichomes form genotype-specific microbial hotspots in the phyllosphere of tomato

摘要: BACKGROUND The plant phyllosphere is a well-studied habitat characterized by low nutrient availability and high community dynamics. In contrast, trichomes, known for their production of large number metabolites, are yet unexplored microbes. We analyzed the as well trichomes two tomato genotypes (Solanum lycopersicum LA4024, S. habrochaites LA1777) targeting bacterial 16S rRNA gene fragments. RESULTS Leaves, leaves without alone harbored similar abundances bacteria (108-109 copy numbers per gram sample). diversity was found significantly increased in trichome samples (Shannon index: 4.4 vs. 2.5). Moreover, composition different when assessed with beta analysis corresponding statistical tests. At class level, Alphaproteobacteria (23.6%) were increased, whereas Bacilli (8.6%) decreased trichomes. family Sphingomonadacea (8.4%) identified most prominent, trichome-specific feature; Burkholderiaceae Actinobacteriaceae showed patterns. Sphingomonas central element core microbiome samples, while distinct low-abundant families including Hymenobacteraceae Alicyclobacillaceae exclusively samples. Niche preferences statistically significant both genotype-specific enrichments further observed. CONCLUSION Our results provide first evidence highly specific show importance micro-niches structure communities on leaves. These findings clues breeding, pathology protection so far natural pathogen defense strategies.