Bacteria associated with the rhizosphere of Vaccinium floribundum Kunth in two paramo ecosystems of the Ecuadorian Andes

Abstract

The rhizosphere is a complex and dynamic habitat, where plant roots engage in interactions with microorganisms. The microbiota associated with the soil is a fundamental instrument for the adaptation and development of the plant communities living there. A native plant species of extraordinary industrial and environmental importance is Vaccinium floribundum Kunth (Andean blueberry), usually found in the Ecuadorian paramos. In this research work, the bacteria associated with the rhizosphere of V. floribundum in two paramo ecosystems of the province of Chimborazo were characterized by using molecular tools. Composite soil samples were obtained from the root of plants located in the paramo of Ganquis (herbaceous paramo) and the paramo of Cubillín (high montane forest); the physicochemical properties of the soil and the respective taxonomic profile were analyzed. Molecular characterization was performed by massive parallel sequencing with the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) method. The soil of the two paramos presented granular and blocky structures, the pH was moderately acid, and the percentage of organic matter was higher in Cubillín. In the paramo of Ganquis, 534 species of bacteria were identified, the most numerous were recorded within the phyla Proteobacteria with an average of 59% and Actinobacteria with an average of 31% of species. In the paramo of Cubillín, 464 species of bacteria were identified, the most numerous being in the phyla Proteobacteria with an average of 61% and Actinobacteria with an average of 29%.