Molecular analyses of the interaction of microbes and marsh grasses Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis

Plant microbiomes play a key role in plant survival, as microbial interactions contribute to plant growth and vigor by helping to tolerate stress. These interactions are triggered by signaling molecules which regulate gene expression. Plants from marsh environments are constantly exposed to stress due to variations in hydrology and salinity levels. Exploring the microbiomes of these plants will help understand their survivability. The main focus of this research is to explore the microbial community associated with native and invasive marsh grasses and the differences in gene expressions. In the long term, we aim to understand how microorganisms assist marsh grasses in tolerating abiotic stress conditions. The underlying objective will be achieved by Illumina sequencing of plant transcriptomes and microbial composition profiling. Soil and plant tissues (leaf, stem and root) were collected from Spartina and Phragmites during late summer. Microbial communities were assessed by targeting the 16S rRNA gene and sequenced on Illumina MiSeq platform. RNA was extracted from root and leaf tissues and sequenced on Illumina HiSeq2500. Differentially expressed genes were classified based on their function. Microbial diversity was high in Spartina soils along with increased percentages of alpha, beta, and delta proteobacteria. Differences in microbial composition greatly affect soil structure and plant survival within the marsh ecosystem. Results from this study will help distinguish genes that regulate abiotic stressors. The future prospects of this study will provide better insight on the role of microbes in terrestrial plant survival under extreme environmental conditions.