# The Composition and Function of Bacterial Communities Associated with the Northern Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne hapla) Populations Showing Parasitic Variability

## TL;DR

This study explores how bacterial communities differ in nematode populations with varying parasitic abilities in Michigan vegetable fields.

## Contribution

The study reveals a link between bacterial community composition and nematode parasitic variability.

## Key findings

- Bacterial communities varied in nematode populations with different parasitic variability levels.
- Medium- and low-PV nematode populations shared more bacterial composition than high-PV populations.
- The study identified 65 and 61 bacterial genera in field and greenhouse isolates, respectively.

## Abstract

The co-existence of microbial communities and Meloidogyne hapla populations showing high, medium, and low levels of parasitic variability (PV) in mineral and muck soils with different soil health conditions in Michigan vegetable production fields is established. However, if PV relates or not to bacterial communities is unknown. This study characterized bacterial communities present on and in the body of nine M. hapla field and greenhouse sub-populations isolated from the mineral and muck fields. We utilized a high throughput sequencing of 16S rDNA. Results showed a variable composition (or abundance) of 65 genera in the field and 61 genera in the greenhouse isolates, with 12 genera of unknown and the rest belonging to 14 known functional groups. The medium- and low-PV populations shared more bacterial composition than either one with the high-PV population. Thus, laying a foundation for an in-depth understanding of if the observed associations have any role in cause-and-effect relationships with M. hapla PV.