Insights into the Apple Tree Microbiome: Determination of Pathogenic and Beneficial Bacteria

Özet

In this study, the phyllospheric and rhizospheric microbiota of apple trees (Malus domestica L.), one of the most significant crops in pome fruit cultivation, were investigated using a standardized sampling methodology. Genomic DNA was extracted from the collected samples utilizing the F-Spin Bacterial Fecal/Soil DNA Isolation Kit. Molecular identification was performed through the amplification of the V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene using the primer set 533F-805R. In addition to molecular analyses, soil and leaf samples were cultured under laboratory conditions at the Molecular Plant Bacteriology Laboratory, Department of Plant Protection, Selcuk University, where biochemical characterization and pathogenicity assessments were conducted. According to the findings, the bacterial communities exhibited varying compositions across different orchards, with members of the phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes being predominant. Importantly, several key apple pathogens were identified, including Erwinia amylovora, Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, and Rhizobium radiobacter. The results suggest that the interactions between pathogenic and beneficial bacterial agents within the apple microbiota, under natural environmental conditions, differ across regions and climatic zones. These insights are anticipated to provide a foundational basis for the development of novel biological control strategies.