Powdery mildew-infection changes bacterial community composition in the phyllosphere

Abstract

To investigate changes in bacterial communities associated with a fungal foliar disease, epiphytic bacteria from powdery mildew-infected and uninfected leaves of cucumber and Japanese spindle were analyzed using both culture-dependent and -independent methods. Dilution plate counting suggested that powdery mildew-infected leaves likely accommodated larger populations of phyllosphere bacteria than uninfected leaves. Community-level physiological profiles (CLPP) also indicated that functional diversity, richness, and evenness of bacterial communities were significantly greater in the phyllosphere of powdery mildew-infected leaves. Genotype diversity and richness based on band patterns of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of the phyllosphere bacterial community were greater for leaves infected by powdery mildew. A principle component analysis of CLPP and DGGE patterns revealed a clear difference between infected and uninfected leaves of both plant species. These results suggest that powdery mildew-infection results in larger bacterial populations, and greater diversity and richness, and also changes the structure of the phyllosphere bacterial community. Furthermore, DNA sequences of the DGGE bands that showed greater intensity in the infected than uninfected leaves, differed between cucumber and Japanese spindle. This suggests that specific bacteria are associated with the plant species accompanying this fungal infection.