Microbes have pervasive effects on plant phenology

In a new review, we find microbes living with plants frequently alter plant lifecyle timing, from germination to fruit! Effects vary across microbes, plant stages, & the evolutionary consequences are underexplored. @Botanichole @mrebolleda @maggieRwagner https://t.co/UujI4Owhz2 https://t.co/nzTmL9IzcX

— Anna O'Brien (@anna_mobrien) October 18, 2021

In Microbial effects on plant phenology and fitness we catalogued how microbes affect the timing of plant life history from germination to senescence. We compared effects across microbial groups, plant tissue types, and types of plant-microbe interactions (e.g. pathogenic vs mutualistic microbes). Existing work suggests that rates and types of microbial effects (event happens earlier vs later) vary across microbial group and plant life stages in intriguing ways.

Previous post
Contaminants from human activities are ecological stressors Next post
Insight out at eLife