Microbial generalists as keystone species: constructing core network modules in the anthosphere of twelve diverse wild plant species
Abstract Background The anthosphere, also known as the floral microbiome, is a crucial component of the plant reproductive system. Therefore, understanding the anthospheric microbiome is essential to explore the diversity, interactions, and functions of wildflowers that coexist in natural habitats....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Microbiome |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-025-00666-w |
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| author | Jihoon Kim Yingshun Cui Kyong-Hee Nam Jun-Woo Lee Jong-Geol Kim Seong-Jun Chun |
| author_facet | Jihoon Kim Yingshun Cui Kyong-Hee Nam Jun-Woo Lee Jong-Geol Kim Seong-Jun Chun |
| author_sort | Jihoon Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The anthosphere, also known as the floral microbiome, is a crucial component of the plant reproductive system. Therefore, understanding the anthospheric microbiome is essential to explore the diversity, interactions, and functions of wildflowers that coexist in natural habitats. We aimed to explore microbial interaction mechanisms and key drivers of microbial community structures using 144 flower samples from 12 different wild plant species inhabiting the same natural environment in South Korea. Results The microbial diversity of the anthosphere showed plant dependence, with the highest diversity observed in Forsythia koreana, indicating microbial dynamics in relation to plant species. Caulobacter, Sphingomonas, Achromobacter, Epicoccum, Cladosporium, and Alternaria were anthosphere generalists, suggesting that the local plant anthosphere had a similar microbial composition. Ecological network analysis revealed that anthosphere generalists were tightly coupled to each other and constructed core modules in the anthosphere. Functions associated with parasites and pathogens were commonly observed in the anthosphere, particularly in Capsella bursa-pastoris and Brassica juncea. Conclusion Overall, the anthosphere depends on the plant species and microbial generalists function as keystone species to support and connect the anthospheric microbiome in natural habitats. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1ccc809670254caf8ec5d4e8632b8203 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2524-6372 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Microbiome |
| spelling | doaj-art-1ccc809670254caf8ec5d4e8632b82032025-01-19T12:39:20ZengBMCEnvironmental Microbiome2524-63722025-01-0120111610.1186/s40793-025-00666-wMicrobial generalists as keystone species: constructing core network modules in the anthosphere of twelve diverse wild plant speciesJihoon Kim0Yingshun Cui1Kyong-Hee Nam2Jun-Woo Lee3Jong-Geol Kim4Seong-Jun Chun5LMO Team, National Institute of EcologyJeonbuk Institute for Food-BioindustryLMO Team, National Institute of EcologyLMO Team, National Institute of EcologyDepartment of Biological Science, Wonkwang UniversityLMO Team, National Institute of EcologyAbstract Background The anthosphere, also known as the floral microbiome, is a crucial component of the plant reproductive system. Therefore, understanding the anthospheric microbiome is essential to explore the diversity, interactions, and functions of wildflowers that coexist in natural habitats. We aimed to explore microbial interaction mechanisms and key drivers of microbial community structures using 144 flower samples from 12 different wild plant species inhabiting the same natural environment in South Korea. Results The microbial diversity of the anthosphere showed plant dependence, with the highest diversity observed in Forsythia koreana, indicating microbial dynamics in relation to plant species. Caulobacter, Sphingomonas, Achromobacter, Epicoccum, Cladosporium, and Alternaria were anthosphere generalists, suggesting that the local plant anthosphere had a similar microbial composition. Ecological network analysis revealed that anthosphere generalists were tightly coupled to each other and constructed core modules in the anthosphere. Functions associated with parasites and pathogens were commonly observed in the anthosphere, particularly in Capsella bursa-pastoris and Brassica juncea. Conclusion Overall, the anthosphere depends on the plant species and microbial generalists function as keystone species to support and connect the anthospheric microbiome in natural habitats.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-025-00666-wFloral microbiomeFunctional analysisKeystone speciesRecurrent network analysisWildflowers |
| spellingShingle | Jihoon Kim Yingshun Cui Kyong-Hee Nam Jun-Woo Lee Jong-Geol Kim Seong-Jun Chun Microbial generalists as keystone species: constructing core network modules in the anthosphere of twelve diverse wild plant species Environmental Microbiome Floral microbiome Functional analysis Keystone species Recurrent network analysis Wildflowers |
| title | Microbial generalists as keystone species: constructing core network modules in the anthosphere of twelve diverse wild plant species |
| title_full | Microbial generalists as keystone species: constructing core network modules in the anthosphere of twelve diverse wild plant species |
| title_fullStr | Microbial generalists as keystone species: constructing core network modules in the anthosphere of twelve diverse wild plant species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbial generalists as keystone species: constructing core network modules in the anthosphere of twelve diverse wild plant species |
| title_short | Microbial generalists as keystone species: constructing core network modules in the anthosphere of twelve diverse wild plant species |
| title_sort | microbial generalists as keystone species constructing core network modules in the anthosphere of twelve diverse wild plant species |
| topic | Floral microbiome Functional analysis Keystone species Recurrent network analysis Wildflowers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-025-00666-w |
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