Figure 4.
Multi-kingdom Reconstitution of the A. thaliana Root Microbiota
(A) Recolonization of germ-free plants with root-derived bacterial (148), fungal (34), and oomycetal (8) isolates in the FlowPot system. Shoot fresh weight of four-week-old A. thaliana Col-0 inoculated with bacteria (“B”), fungi (“F”); oomycetes (“O”); bacteria and oomycetes (“BO”); bacteria and fungi (“BF”); fungi and oomycetes (“FO”); and bacteria, fungi, and oomycetes (“BFO”). MF, microbe-free/control. Shoot fresh weight values were normalized to MF. Significant differences are depicted with letters (p < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis with Dunn’s post hoc test). Survival rate values represent the percentage of germinated plants that survived. Data are from three biological replicates (represented by different shapes) with three technical replicates each.
(B) Observed species per microbial group in matrix samples for each of the above-mentioned inoculations (p < 0.05, Kruskal Wallis with Dunn’s post hoc test). Input, initial microbial inoculum; UNPL, unplanted matrix.
(C) RAs of microbial isolates in initial input and output matrix and root samples after 4 weeks. Taxonomic assignment is shown at the phylum level for bacteria and at the species level for fungi and oomycetes. Numbers in brackets refer to bacterial, fungal, and oomycetal strains specifically enriched in matrix samples in either B, BF, or BFO conditions; F, BF, or BFO conditions; or O, BO, or BFO conditions, as depicted in Figure S4E.