Functional annotation of genes associated with colonization and establishment of endophytes in Emilia sonchifolia (LINN.) DC

Abstract

Abstract Purpose The entry of rhizosheric bacteria into a plant requires efficient genomic machinery that favours its internalization into the host tissues. We hypothesize that the screening of microbial colonization genes can give an insight into the selection process where some of the soil microbes transform into endophytes in their respective host plants.Methods Total DNA was isolated from Emilia sonchifolia, PCR amplified and sequenced using Illumina Miseq method. Then metagenome assembly and gene prediction were done followed by gene functional annotation using Nr, KEGG, eggnog and CAZy databases.Results Gene functional annotations revealed the presence of genes coding for proteins involved in chemotactic movements such as cheW, cheY, che and CheR, flagellar and pilin assembly genes, genes associated with biofilm formation viz. Wza, Wzb, Wzc and WcaM, quorum sensing genes, genes associated with osmoprotectants, host defense etc.Conclusions The establishment of endophytes is a complex process and still many lacunae exist in our understanding of the process of internalization and formation of endophytes. This study confirms the presence of genes associated with colonization, internalization and penetration of endophytes in the medicinally important plant Emilia sonchifolia and thus adds to our current knowledge in plant-microbe interaction.