Plant nickel-exclusion versus hyperaccumulation: a microbial perspective

To our knowledge, this study is the first to systematically compare the microbiomes associated with different compartments of New Caledonian metallophyte species growing on the same substrate and under identical environmental conditions but exhibiting different adaptive phenotypes. Our results reveal distinct microbial biomarkers between the Ni-hyperaccumulator and non-accumulator Psychotria species. Most of the highlighted biomarkers are abundant in various plants under metal stress and may contribute to improving the phytoextraction or phytostabilization processes. They are also known to tolerate heavy metals and enhance metal stress tolerance in plants. The present findings highlight that the microbial perspective is essential for better understanding the mechanisms of hyperaccumulation and exclusion at the whole-plant level. Video Abstract.