Cadmium levels and soil pH drive structure and function differentiation of endophytic bacterial communities in Sedum plumbizincicola: A field study

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 912; p. 168828
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jinming, Na, Meng, Wang, Yukun, Ge, Wen, Zhou, Jihai, Zhou, Shoubiao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 20.02.2024
• Subjects: Endophyte community; Heavy metal; Network keystone taxa; Phytoremediation; Sedum plumbizincicola; Sedum plumbizincicola; Network keystone taxa; Heavy metal; Endophyte community; Phytoremediation
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168828

Sedum plumbizincicola is a promising hyperaccumulator for heavy metal phytoremediation. It grows in heavy metal polluted soil and stores specific endophyte resources with heavy metal tolerance or growth promotion characteristics. In this study, the endophyte communities of S. plumbizincicola, growing naturally in the field (two former mining locations and one natural location) were investigated, and their structure and function were comparatively studied. The bioaccumulation and translocation characteristics of cadmium (Cd) and selenium (Se) in S. plumbizincicola were also evaluated. The results showed that the heavy metal pollution reduced the richness and diversity of endophyte communities. Soil pH and Cd concentration could be the key factors affecting the composition of the endophyte community. Co-occurrence network analysis identified that 22 keystone taxa belonging to Actinobacteriota, Firmicutes, Myxococcota and Proteobacteria were positively correlated with Cd bioaccumulation and translocation. The predicted endophyte metabolic pathways were enriched in physiological metabolism, immune system, and genetic Information processing. These findings may help to understand how endophytes assist host plants to enhance their adaptability to harsh environments, and provide a basis for further exploration of plant-endophyte interactions and improvement in phytoremediation efficiency. [Display omitted] •Cd concentration and soil pH were the driving factors affecting endophyte community.•Heavy metal pollution reduced the richness and diversity of endophyte community.•Cd pollution increased positive interactions in the endophyte network.•Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes contributed major keystone taxa.