Distinct diversity patterns of Planctomycetes associated with the freshwater macrophyte Nuphar lutea (L.) Smith

Members of the phylum Planctomycetes were originally described as freshwater bacteria. Most recent studies, however, address planctomycete diversity in other environments colonized by these microorganisms, including marine and terrestrial ecosystems. This study was initiated in order to revisit the specific patterns of planctomycete diversity in freshwater habitats using cultivation-independent approaches. The specific focus was made on planctomycetes associated with Nuphar lutea (L.) Smith, an emergent macrophyte with floating leaves, which is widespread in the Holarctic. As revealed by Illumina pair-end sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments, the bacterial assemblages colonizing floating leaf blades of waterlilies sampled from two different boreal lakes displayed similar composition but were distinct from the planktonic bacterial communities. 16S rRNA gene fragments from the Planctomycetes comprised 0.1–1 and 1–2.2% of total 16S rRNA gene reads retrieved from water samples and plant leaves, respectively. Planktonic planctomycetes were mostly affiliated with the class Planctomycetaceae (77–97%), while members of the Phycisphaerae were less abundant (3–22%). The relative proportion of the latter group, however, increased by 13–45% on leaves of N. lutea. The Phycisphaera-related group WD2101, Pirellula-like planctomycetes, as well as Gemmata, Zavarzinella and Planctopirus species were the most abundant groups of planctomycetes associated with plant leaves, which may suggest their involvement in the degradation of plant-derived organic matter.