Pseudomonas spp. isolated from Morchella spp.

Bacterial-Fungal Interactions are significant drivers of many ecosystem functions. The diversity of bacteria engaging in this type of interactions with fungi from the genus Morchella, an iconic and highly diverse fungal genus in Ascomycota, was investigated in this project. Morchella samples were collected across the State of Neuchatel, Switzerland. Bacteria affiliated to Pseudomonas and Ralstonia were shown to be part of the bacteria associated to mycelia and sclerotia. Moreover, During in vitro cultivation, several Pseudomonas isolates were obtained. In confrontation assays between these bacteria and various Morchella isolates distinct interaction phenotypes (antagonistic or neutral) were observed. Genetic differences between these Pseudomonas isolates correlate with these phenotypic discrepancies.