IMPORTANCE IN THE PLANT

-A more holistic approach to examine plants; they cannot be considered standalone entities

A DYNAMIC PAIR Plant fitness is a combination of the plant itself and the which together form the holobiont. The additive ecological functions supported by the plant microbiome are acknowledged to be a major trait extending the plant’s ability to adapt to many kinds of environmental conditions and changes, which is of primary significance in view of the sessile life of plants. (Vandenkoornhuyse et al. 2015) Therefore, when considering the evolution of the plant holobiont a novel approach must be taken to include the microbiota associated with the plant and their contribution to overall fitness.

THE HOLOBIONT

Plants host a wide range of symbionts which directly impact their fitness. Thus the holobiont (the combination of host and microbiota) is a dynamic entity, and thus a collective view of the functions and interactions existing between the host and symbionts must be accounted for. It is possible that the plant may be able to modulate it’s own symbionts to increase it’s own fitness in defense, immunity, and resource partitioning for example. The increase in fitness is a benefit for the plant, and there are many possible functions that these microbiota play within the host-symbiont system. The benefits are added upon when you consider the enormous diversity of microbiota within a given host and their wide range of functionality.

(A) is a bacterial (A) (B) symbiont , Streptomycetaceae. Above is a depiction of the plant holobiont and (B) is a fungal some key interaction aspects. symbiont Glomus. (Vandenkoornhuyse et al. 2015)

FUTURE STUDIES We have much to learn about the plant holobiont which includes but is not limited to the characterization of the microbiome and the microbiome community structure, characterization of the functionality of the microbiota, determining molecular interactions occurring between the plant and symbionts, and the link between diversity and function in microbiota.

Vandenkoornhuyse, P., et al. (2015). "The importance of the microbiome of the plant holobiont." New Phytologist 206(4): 1196-1206.