Microorganisms associated with charophytes under different salinity conditions

SummaryMicroorganisms associated with aquatic macrophytes can in various ways interact with a plant and influence its activity and vice versa. A low-salinity intrusion into freshwater environment can affect plant-microorganism interactions. In this study, effects of different salinity conditions on the abundance and community composition of associated microorganisms with charophytes in the Curonian Lagoon were assessed. From the results, we found that short term salinity changes affected the abundance of bacteria and fungi associated with charophytes, whereas no response was reflected in the taxa composition of fungi, showing that other factors could be of more importance. The increased fungi abundances and different fungi composition in August in comparison to June was probably related to senescence process of aquatic vegetation. 8 fungi taxa were isolated and identified in association with charophytes, while higher diversity was revealed by DGGE technique.