Distinct and Intermediate Bacterial Community Structure of the Wasabi Rhizome Based on Compartment-resolved 16S rRNA Gene Profiling

Abstract

The plant microbiota plays important roles in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Wasabi (Eutrema japonicum), a traditional crop indigenous to Japan, remains poorly characterized in terms of its associated bacterial community. In the present study, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed distinct bacterial community structures across plant and soil compartments. The rhizome microbiota, the edible plant organ used as a spice, exhibited intermediate characteristics between those of the root and leaf microbiota. These results provide fundamental insights into the wasabi-associated bacterial microbiota and identify the rhizome as a distinct microbial niche.