Abstract

The phyllosphere of bryophytes offers an excellent habitat to various other microorganism to flourish. This fascinating association among bryophytes and soil borne microorganisms have significant ecological and physiological roles including N2 fixation, soil-enrichment, promotion of protonemal growth and bud formation. However, our understanding regarding the ecological aspects of this association is still little known, and if consider at molecular level it becomes rare. So far, only sporadic works have been done, and for better understanding related to this ignored concern and there is a necessity to address this. Hence, the present study was done to elucidate the structure and biological roles of bacterial diversity coupled with the bryophytes and their dynamics on selected taxa in different ecosystems. Phylogenetic analysis of bacterial community associated with selected mosses was carried out. The work is primarily based on the 16S rRNA sequencing approach. Moss taxa viz., Anoectangium clarum Mitt., Hyophila involuta (Hook.) A. Jaeger and Atrichhum undulatum (Hedw.) P. Beauv., were collected from different locations of Mount Abu, Rajasthan. The outcome of the study estimated that the microbial communities associated with these mosses belong mainly to phylum proteobacteria and fermicutes with the dominance of γ-proteobacteria. This genus found frequently associated to the species of different habitat, soil, near water channel and the rocks are Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Routella and Halobascillus. This study provides the groundwork information about the exceptional relationship of these bacteria with mosses and would be helpful for the future research in this direction. 

Keywords

bacterial community, bryophytes, endophytes, mosses