Core and Keystone Epiphytic and Endophytic Bacteria Associated With Potato Leaves Are Driven by Cultivar and Site.

Delftia sp. is identified as the only putative keystone taxon in both endophytic and epiphytic bacterial communities across multiple potato cultivars.

• Why it matters: Understanding the composition of leaf-associated bacteria in potatoes can inform strategies to improve plant health and productivity, yet their consistency across cultivars and sites was previously unclear.
• What they did: Researchers collected leaf samples from four potato cultivars across 12 farms in Australia and analyzed bacterial communities using amplicon sequencing, focusing on core and keystone taxa.
• The result: The study found that bacterial community composition is influenced by both cultivar and site, with Delftia sp. consistently acting as a keystone taxon, highlighting potential targets for enhancing potato health.