Microbiome of soil near or in Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) invaded areas

We tested whether the presence of Alliaria petiolata could be associated with differences in plant community composition and/or soil characteristics. To get a clearer picture of how soil microbial communities respond to invasion, we used a combination of AMF and lesion measurements on the roots of species that co-occur with A. petiolata invasion, and metabarcoding of microbial DNA sequences of soil microbes. In addition, we assigned functional groups to microbial DNA sequences to link these microbial community shifts to larger changes in ecosystem processes. Based on current knowledge we predict that invasion by A. petiolate: 1) alters microbial (fungal and bacterial/archaeal) community composition and decreases richness; 2) specifically reduces AMF and EMF richness and promotes saprobes (i.e. fungal decomposers), fungal animal pathogens, and fungal plant pathogens. Thus, A. petiolata invasion will reduce AMF colonization and increase lesions in roots of co-occurring species.