The seagrass holobiont: understanding seagrass-bacteria interactions and their role in seagrass ecosystem functioning

2019/03/01 by Flavia Tarquinio, Glenn A. Hyndes, Bonnie Laverock +2 · 1 citation
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Marine and coastal plant biology #Marine Biology and Ecology Research #Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies

paper · doi:10.1093/femsle/fnz057

openalex publication_date 2019/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

This review shows that the presence of seagrass microbial community is critical for the development of seagrasses; from seed germination, through to phytohormone production and enhanced nutrient availability, and defence against pathogens and saprophytes. The tight seagrass-bacterial relationship highlighted in this review supports the existence of a seagrass holobiont and adds to the growing evidence for the importance of marine eukaryotic microorganisms in sustaining vital ecosystems. Incorporating a micro-scale view on seagrass ecosystems substantially expands our understanding of ecosystem functioning and may have significant implications for future seagrass management and mitigation against human disturbance.

Citations

• Host Biology in Light of the Microbiome: Ten Principles of Holobionts and Hologenomes
• Plant hormones and seed germination
• Microbes in the coral holobiont: partners through evolution, development, and ecological interactions
• Accelerating loss of seagrasses across the globe threatens coastal ecosystems
• A Global Crisis for Seagrass Ecosystems
• Genetics of phosphate solubilization and its potential applications for improving plant growth-promoting bacteria
• Use of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria for Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Principles, Mechanisms of Action, and Future Prospects
• The Seagrass Holobiont and Its Microbiome

Cited by

• Seagrass [wikipedia]