NDLI: Tri-Party Underground Symbiosis between a Weevil, Bacteria and a Desert Plant

Content Provider	PubMed Central
Author	Oren, Shelef Helman, Yael Friedman, Ariel-leib-leonid Behar, Adi Shimon, Rachmilevitch
Editor	Tran, Lam-son Phan
Copyright Year	2013
Abstract	Inhabitants of arid ecosystems face severe nitrogen and water limitations. Inventive adaptations by organisms occupying such habitats are essential for survival. This study describes a tri-party symbiotic interaction between a plant (Salsola inermis), a beetle (Conorhynchus pistor), and a bacterium (Klebsiella pneumonia). The weevil survives by living within a mud structure affixed to the plant roots, thus benefiting from increased carbon and water, and refuge from predators and parasites. Active nitrogen-fixing bacteria harbored within the weevil's gut mediate this interaction, by supplying nitrogen to the system, which eventually promotes seed development. We studied the correlation between the weevil's existence and (i) root carbon and nitrogen content, (ii) soil water content and (iii) seed weight. Roots hosting weevils contained more nitrogen, heavier seeds and less carbon. In addition, water content was higher around the roots than in open spaces a short distance from the plant stem. Bacterial studies and nitrogen-fixation analyses, including molecular and chemical assays, indicated atmospheric nitrogen fixation in the larval stage and identified the bacterium. The coexistence of weevil and bacterial behavior coinciding with the plant's life cycle was revealed here by a long period of field observations. Out of over 60,000 known weevils, this is the only report of a weevil living most of its life underground without harming plants. The unique tri-party interaction described herein shows the important ecological role of desert plant roots and provides an example of a sustainable consortium of living organisms coping with the challenging desert environment.
Related Links	http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0076588
Starting Page	76588
File Format	PDF
ISSN	19326203
e-ISSN	19326203
Journal	PLoS ONE
Issue Number	11
Volume Number	8
Language	English
Publisher	Public Library of Science
Publisher Date	2013-11-11
Access Restriction	Open
Rights Holder	Public Library of Science
Subject Keyword	Research in Higher Education
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Multidisciplinary

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

Tripartite symbiosis of plant-weevil-bacteria is a widespread phenomenon in the Negev Desert

Lectin, a possible basis for symbiosis between bacteria and sponges.

The players in a mutualistic symbiosis: Insects, bacteria, viruses, and virulence genes

Gut bacteria of weevils developing on plant roots under extreme desert conditions

Panothenic Acid and the Nodule Bacteria-Legume Symbiosis

Gene-Swapping Mediates Host Specificity among Symbiotic Bacteria in a Beneficial Symbiosis

Burkholderia bacteria infectiously induce the proto-farming symbiosis of Dictyostelium amoebae and food bacteria

Symbiosis between Termites and Their Intestinal Protozoa1

Altered Carbohydrates Allocation by Associated Bacteria-fungi Interactions in a Bark Beetle-microbe Symbiosis

Tri-Party Underground Symbiosis between a Weevil, Bacteria and a Desert Plant

Similar Documents

Tripartite symbiosis of plant-weevil-bacteria is a widespread phenomenon in the Negev Desert

Lectin, a possible basis for symbiosis between bacteria and sponges.

The players in a mutualistic symbiosis: Insects, bacteria, viruses, and virulence genes

Gut bacteria of weevils developing on plant roots under extreme desert conditions

Panothenic Acid and the Nodule Bacteria-Legume Symbiosis

Gene-Swapping Mediates Host Specificity among Symbiotic Bacteria in a Beneficial Symbiosis

Burkholderia bacteria infectiously induce the proto-farming symbiosis of Dictyostelium amoebae and food bacteria

Symbiosis between Termites and Their Intestinal Protozoa1

Altered Carbohydrates Allocation by Associated Bacteria-fungi Interactions in a Bark Beetle-microbe Symbiosis

Tri-Party Underground Symbiosis between a Weevil, Bacteria and a Desert Plant