8.1.2019: Julian TAFFNER (Graz): Secret collaborations: How Archaea interact with their plant host, HS 32.01, Institut für Biologie, Bereich Pflanzenwissenschaften, Holteigasse 6, 17.00 Uhr
Plant holobionts are known to harbour a wide diversity of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, influencing plant nutrition, resistance to stress and fitness. Recent studies have shown that, despite of being known as extremophiles, Archaea can also be found on plants as part of their microbiome, but their functions and interactions with their hosts remain mostly unclear. To get a broader insight into the community structure, habitat preferences and functions of plant-associated Archaea, we compared 41 different agriculturally used plant-species from the mediterranean area, Austria and Eastern Africa as well as the vegetation of alpine raised bogs from upper Styria (Austria). Therefore, we used a combined approach of new OMICS- and visualization-techniques. Our findings reveal a new potential of Archaea to play a role for plant holobionts and to interact with other microorganisms.