Bacterial community composition in the phyllosphere and rhizosphere of beech (Fagus sylvatica), subjected to woolly beech aphid (Phyllaphis fagi) infestation in a mesocosm experiment

In this study we investigated the community structure of bacteria associated with the phyllosphere and rhizosphere of beech (Fagus sylvatica) in a mesocosm experiment. Young beech trees were subjected to different levels of infestation with woolly beech aphid (Phyllaphis fagi) for 2.5 months, and effects of this infestation on above-ground and below-ground bacterial communities were tested at the end of the incubation period. Bacterial community structure was assessed by amplicon sequencing using Illumina MiSeq, with the primer combination Bakt_0341F/Bakt_0785R.