Identification of endophytic bacteria selectively enriched in Camellia sinensis leaf

Abstract:

[Objective] Endophytic bacteria of tea leaves may play important roles in tea quality and disease defense. Here we clarify the bacterial communities inside tea leaves, compare the endophytic microbiota with the soil microbial flora, and identify the bacteria that have been selectively enriched in leaves. [Methods] Tea plants and the corresponding soil were sampled from Dengcun, Yichang, Hubei. Genomic DNA was extracted from both leaves and the endophytic bacteria, and the bacterial community was analyzed using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicon (V5-V7). [Results] Camellia sinensis leaf-colonizing endophytic microbiota were mainly composed of five phyla. At the genus level, more than 100 genera were identified among which the genera Methylobacterium, Delftia, Microbacteria, Rhodococcus, Aureimonas and Sphingomonas existed in high abundance. About 40% of the endophytic bacteria were also identified in the soil sample. The endophytic bacteria that did not exist in soil, such as Aureimonas and Delftia, accounted for the rest 60%. [Conclusion] Our findings would provide basis for the bacterium-based strategies in disease control and tea quality.