Bacteria rhizosphere communities of Asiatic Bittersweet across a dunal soil chronosequence

Invasive plants such as Asiatic bittersweet, are a significant problem for land managers due to their disruption of native ecosystems and difficulty to their eradication. We have been investigating underlying factors potentially contributing to the success of this plant. We hypothesize that despite differences in the soil ecology of Asiatic bittersweet establishment in the Indiana Dunes region there are bacteria taxa common in their rhizosphere. The objectives were to determine differences and commonalities in the chemistry, plant community and bacterial communities of Asiatic bittersweet plants. Identification of common microbes provide insight into the success of this invasive plant, and a strategy for future work to weaken Asiatic bittersweet establishment and offer some control.