Seed/embryo transmission of endophytic bacteria

Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) seed- and seed-embryo-microbiome were investigated to assess the possibility/ the extent of embryo-mediated vertical bacterial. This involved the aseptic collection of mature seeds and seed-embryos from ripe grape berries, DNA extraction and cultivation versus 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 taxonomic profiling. Cultivation based approach showed no cfu suggesting the absence of any cultivable bacteria. On the other hand, 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 profiling revealed a high diversity of bacteria apparently in an uncultivable form. This clearly indicated the embryo-mediated vertical transmission of diverse endophytic bacteria.