Figure 1.

Schematic of microbiome surrounding a plant throughout its life history. UL: Endophytic fungi and bacteria can be transmitted within the seed coats of certain plant species. UR: As seeds germinate, roots, stems, and leaves of seedlings can be inhabited by various microbes. Those microbes may have been transmitted through seeds, soil and plant litter on site, or airborne spores. LR: A mature plant may be thoroughly infected with microbes. LL: As perennial plants senesce, some endophytes are transmitted to the next generation through seeds or through living rhizomes. Other microbes may be transmitted through spores in the plant litter.