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. 2020 Sep;69(1):91-97.
doi: 10.33073/pjm-2020-012. Epub 2020 Mar 11.

Bacterial Diversity in Roots, Stems, and Leaves of Chinese Medicinal Plant Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis

Tian-Hao Liu  1 , Yin Zhou  2 , Wen-Cong Tao  3 , Yang Liu  2 , Xiao-Mei Zhang  2 , Shou-Zheng Tian  2
Affiliations

Bacterial Diversity in Roots, Stems, and Leaves of Chinese Medicinal Plant Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis

Tian-Hao Liu et al. Pol J Microbiol. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

The root of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis, a famous and endangered traditional Chinese herb, has a significant medicinal value. The aim of this study was to analyze the composition and functional characteristics of bacterial endophytes in roots, stems, and leaves of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing and functional prediction of bacterial endophytes in roots, stems, and leaves of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis were conducted. The Chao and Shannon indices of the bacteria in roots were significantly higher than those in stems and leaves. The dominant endophyte phyla were Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. The main genera detected in roots were unclassified Cyanobacteria, Rhizobium, Flavobacterium, and Sphingobium; the main genera in stems were norank_c__Cyanobacteria, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas; the main genera in leaves were norank_c__Cyanobacteria and Rhizobium. The microbiota in roots was particularly enriched in functional categories "extracellular structures" and "cytoskeleton" compared with stems and leaves (p < 0.05). Our study reveals the structural and functional characteristics of the endophytic bacteria in roots, stems, and leaves of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis, which aids in the scientific understanding of this plant.

The root of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis, a famous and endangered traditional Chinese herb, has a significant medicinal value. The aim of this study was to analyze the composition and functional characteristics of bacterial endophytes in roots, stems, and leaves of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing and functional prediction of bacterial endophytes in roots, stems, and leaves of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis were conducted. The Chao and Shannon indices of the bacteria in roots were significantly higher than those in stems and leaves. The dominant endophyte phyla were Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. The main genera detected in roots were unclassified Cyanobacteria, Rhizobium, Flavobacterium, and Sphingobium; the main genera in stems were norank_c__Cyanobacteria, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas; the main genera in leaves were norank_c__Cyanobacteria and Rhizobium. The microbiota in roots was particularly enriched in functional categories “extracellular structures” and “cytoskeleton” compared with stems and leaves (p < 0.05). Our study reveals the structural and functional characteristics of the endophytic bacteria in roots, stems, and leaves of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis, which aids in the scientific understanding of this plant.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

The authors do not report any financial or personal connections with other persons or organizations, which might negatively affect the contents of this publication and/or claim authorship rights to this publication.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
OTU relative abundances of roots, stems, and leaves (n = 6). S represents stems, R represents root, and L represents leaf.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Chao index of OTU level of roots, stems, and leaves (mean ± SD) (n = 6). S represents stems, R represents root, and L represents leaf. (0.01 < p ≤ 0.05 marked as *, 0.001 < p ≤ 0.01 marked as **, p ≤ 0.001 marked as ***).
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Shannon index of OTU level of roots, stems, and leaves (mean ± SD) (n = 6). S represents stems, R represents root, and L represents leaf. (0.01 < p ≤ 0.05 marked as *, 0.001 < p ≤ 0.01 marked as **, p ≤ 0.001 marked as ***).
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
PCA of roots, stems, and leaves (n = 6). S represents stems, R represents root, and L represents leaf.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.
Percent of community abundance on the phylum level of roots, stems, and leaves (n = 6). S represents stems, R represents root, and L represents leaf.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 6.
Percent of community abundance on Genus level of roots, stems, and leaves (n = 6). S represents stems, R represents root, and L represents leaf.
Fig. 7.
Fig. 7.
Functional relative abundance of roots, stems, and leaves (n = 6). S represents stems, R represents root, and L represents leaf.
Fig. 8.
Fig. 8.
Significantly relative abundance of roots, stems, and leaves (mean ± SD) (n = 6). A: enriched in extracellular structures. B: enriched in the cytoskeleton. S represents stems, R represents root, and L represents leaf. (0.01 < p ≤ 0.05 marked as *, 0.001 < p ≤ 0.01 marked as **).
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