Comparative tomato flower and pollinator hive microbial communities

Abstract

The flower is the most important part of the phyllosphere because it provides a large amount of nutrients and protective habitat for various microorganisms. Colonized microorganisms modulate the microbial ecology of flowers by changing their environment. In this study, we investigated microbial diversity in tomato flower (TF) and bumblebee hive (TH) for 3 months. As time passed, microbial diversity and distribution in TF and TH became similar. We assumed that microorganisms inhabiting TFs were delivered by bumblebee. Actinobacteria constitute a well-colonizing microorganism that can move from TH to TF. We isolated eight strains of Streptomyces spp., which belonged to Actinobacteria. These strains showed antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea which is a gray mold pathogen in many plants. We conclude that bumblebee transmits microorganisms to flowers and change their microbial diversity.