The effect of root‐associated microbes on plant growth and chemical defence traits across two contrasted elevations

Formenti, Ludovico; Caggìa, Veronica; Puissant, Jérémy; Goodall, Tim; Glauser, Gaétan; Griffiths, Robert; Rasmann, Sergio; Shefferson, Richard (2021). The effect of root‐associated microbes on plant growth and chemical defence traits across two contrasted elevations. Journal of ecology, 109(1), pp. 38-50. Wiley 10.1111/1365-2745.13440

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1. Ecotypic differences in plant growth and anti-herbivore defence phenotypesare determined by the complex interactions between the abiotic and the bioticenvironment.2. Root-associated microbes (RAMs) are pervasive in nature, vary over climatic gradi-ents and have been shown to influence the expression of multiple plant functionaltraits related to biomass accumulation and biotic interactions. We addressed howvariation in climatic conditions between lowland and subalpine habitats in theAlps and RAMs can independently or interactively affect plant growth and anti-herbivore defence trait expression.3. To address the contribution of climate and RAMs on growth and chemical de-fences of high- and low-elevation Plantago major ecotypes, we performed a full-factorial reciprocal transplant field experiment at two elevations. We coupled itwith plant functional trait measurements and metabolomics analyses.4. We found that local growing climatic conditions mostly influenced how theecotypes grew, but we also found that the high- and low-elevation ecotypes im-proved biomass accumulation if in the presence of their own-elevation RAMs. Wealso found that while chemical defence expression was affected by climate, theywere also more highly expressed when plants were inoculated with low-elevationRAMs.5. Synthesis. Our research demonstrated that root-associated microbes (RAMs) fromcontrasted elevations impact how plants grow or synthesize toxic secondary me-tabolites. At low elevation, where biotic interactions are stronger, RAMs enhanceplant biomass accumulation and the production of toxic secondary metabolites.K E Y W O R D Sbroad-leaf plantain, caffeoyl phenylethanoïd glycosides, endophytes, iridoid glycosides,mycorrhizal fungi, plant growth-promoting bacteria, secondary metabolites

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