Network modules and hubs in plant-root fungal biomes

• DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2015.1097
• Publication Date: 2016-03-09T10:12:44Z
• Authors: Hirokazu Toju; Satoshi Yamamoto; Akifumi S. Tanabe; Takashi Hayakawa; Hiroshi S. Ishii
• Keywords: Biome

Terrestrial plants host phylogenetically and functionally diverse groups of below-ground microbes, whose community structure controls plant growth/survival in both natural agricultural ecosystems. Therefore, understanding the processes by which whole root-associated microbiomes are organized is one major challenges ecology science. We here report that fungi can form highly compartmentalized networks coexistence within roots fungal symbiont communities be partitioned into semi-discrete types even a single population. Illumina sequencing monodominant south beech forest revealed network representing symbiont–symbiont co-occurrence patterns was clear modules, consisted functional mycorrhizal endophytic fungi. Consequently, terminal were colonized either two largest species sets (represented Oidiodendron or Cenococcum ). Thus, species-rich root have alternative structures, as recently shown relationships between human gut microbiome type (i.e. ‘enterotype’) individual health. This study also shows an analytical framework for pinpointing hubs networks, leading to working hypothesis small number microbial organize overall root–microbiome dynamics.