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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Microbial Symbioses
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1476073

Functional assembly of surface microbiota of Ulva fasciata improves nutrient absorption efficiency and growth

Provisionally accepted
Han Wang Han Wang 1De H. Li De H. Li 1*Chang L. Liang Chang L. Liang 1*Zhong Hu Zhong Hu 2*Jun H. Liu Jun H. Liu 1*
  • 1 Huanghuai University, Zhumadian, China
  • 2 Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Macroalgae growth depends on biologically available nitrogen, such as ammonium and nitrate, making nitrogen the most common growth-limiting factor for macroalgae. However, the role of surface microorganisms in promoting nitrogen transformation and improving nitrogen utilization by macroalgae remains unclear. In this study, 228 bacterial strains were isolated from the surface of U. fasciata, and high-throughput sequencing revealed significant shifts in the composition of surface bacterial communities under different nitrogen concentrations. Key bacterial families such as Rhodobacteraceae and Flavobacteriaceae were identified as essential for nitrogen cycling. Network analysis indicated that Rhodobacteraceae and Flavobacteriaceae were central nodes in microbial interactions. A synthetic microbial community (SynCom2), comprising four strains, significantly increased the biomass, nitrogen, and phosphorus acquisition of U. fasciata, with soluble sugar, protein, and Chlorophyll a level increasing by 23.9%-49.2%. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis revealed that compared to untreated control plants, SynCom2 enhanced the expression of key genes associated with photosynthesis (rbcL, 1.04-fold), lipid biosynthesis (accD, 11.21-fold), and growth hormone precursor pathways (wrkY, 9.54-fold). These findings suggest that SynCom2 promotes U. fasciata growth by improving nutrient acquisition and activating growth-related genes.

    Keywords: U. fasciata, nitrogen concentration, Function composition, Synthetic community, nutrient efficiency

    Received: 05 Aug 2024; Accepted: 01 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Wang, Li, Liang, Hu and Liu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    De H. Li, Huanghuai University, Zhumadian, China
    Chang L. Liang, Huanghuai University, Zhumadian, China
    Zhong Hu, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063, Guangdong Province, China
    Jun H. Liu, Huanghuai University, Zhumadian, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.