Data from: Host genotype and age shape the leaf and root microbiomes of a wild perennial plant

Bacteria living on and in leaves and roots influence many aspects of plant
health, so the extent of a plant’s genetic control over its microbiota is
of great interest to crop breeders and evolutionary biologists.
Laboratory-based studies, because they poorly simulate true environmental
heterogeneity, may misestimate or totally miss the influence of certain
host genes on the microbiome. Here we report a large-scale field
experiment to disentangle the effects of genotype, environment, age and
year of harvest on bacterial communities associated with leaves and roots
of Boechera stricta (Brassicaceae), a perennial wild mustard. Host genetic
control of the microbiome is evident in leaves but not roots, and varies
substantially among sites. Microbiome composition also shifts as plants
age. Furthermore, a large proportion of leaf bacterial groups are shared
with roots, suggesting inoculation from soil. Our results demonstrate how
genotype-by-environment interactions contribute to the complexity of
microbiome assembly in natural environments.