Figure 6. Cultured putative EV and irAOC genotype specialist bacterial isolates did not colonize specifically to either genotype under in-vitro conditions.

Bacterial colonization is independent of genotypes. Leaf (B,C) and root (D,E) colonization of EV and irAOC plants grown under in-vitro conditions for 24 days after single or mixed inoculation of EV and irAOC seedlings. Experimental set-up and list of species used (A): bacteria selected were either isolated only from EV or irAOC genotypes (putative specialists) or generalists, isolated from both genotypes. Seven day old seedlings were inoculated by dipping their roots for 1 min into 1 mL of bacterial suspension of a constant OD = 1 at 600 nm of a single isolate or a mixture of all isolates (50 µL each of isolate). The identity of bacterial isolates was confirmed by morphology and 16S rRNA sequencing. Mean (±SE), CFU, colony-forming units; nd, not detected; FM, fresh mass; n = 6.