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Symbiotic interactions of culturable microbes with the nickel hyperaccumulator Berkheya coddii and the herbivorous insect Chrysolina clathrata

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Abstract

Chrysolina clathrata is a specialized phytophagous beetle feeding exclusively on the herbaceous nickel hyperaccumulating plant Berkheya coddii. These organisms appear impervious to the toxic levels of nickel in their environment. In the current study we aimed to identify microorganisms that may have symbiotic relationships with these organisms. Culture techniques were used to isolate bacteria and fungi from plants and the faeces of beetles reared under laboratory conditions. The identity of isolates was determined using morphology and molecular techniques. Several genera of filamentous fungi (Alternaria, Aspergillus, Bipolaris, Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Fusarium, and Penicillium), yeasts (Cryptococcus, Meyerozyma, and Rhodotorula), as well as endophytic bacteria (Bacillus and Lysinibacillus) were isolated from the leaves of the plant. We also selectively isolated yeasts (Candida, Cryptococcus, Debaryomyces, Meyerozyma and Wickerhamomyces) from the beetle’s faeces. Subsequently we determined the minimum inhibitory Ni-concentration (MIC) of all isolates. The endophytic bacteria, filamentous fungi and the yeasts Candida intermedia, Cryptococcus flavescens and Meyerozyma guilliermondii, showed notable Ni resistance, while the beetle’s gut seems to select for Ni resistant yeasts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa

    Ferdinand Postma, Wendy Stone, Marnel Mouton & Alfred Botha

  2. Materials Research Department, iThemba LABS, P.O. Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, South Africa

    Jolanta Mesjasz-Przybyłowicz & Wojciech Przybyłowicz

  3. On leave from AGH University of Science & Technology, Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, Krakow, Poland

    Wojciech Przybyłowicz

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  1. Ferdinand Postma
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  2. Jolanta Mesjasz-Przybyłowicz
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  3. Wojciech Przybyłowicz
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  5. Marnel Mouton
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  6. Alfred Botha
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Correspondence to Alfred Botha.

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Postma, F., Mesjasz-Przybyłowicz, J., Przybyłowicz, W. et al. Symbiotic interactions of culturable microbes with the nickel hyperaccumulator Berkheya coddii and the herbivorous insect Chrysolina clathrata . Symbiosis 58, 209–220 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-012-0217-8

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