Water Hyacinth microbiome: metagenomic cues from environment and functionality in urban aquatic bodies

Water hyacinth (WH) is a widespread floating invasive aquatic plant having a prolific reproductive and dispersion rate. With the aid of its root-associated microbes, WH significantly modulates the ecosystems functioning. Despite their irrevocable importance, the WH microbiome remains unexplored in detail. Here, we present a shotgun analysis of WH rhizobiome (from urban rivers and a lake) and their surrounding water to unveil the diversity drivers and functional relationship. PCoA analysis revealed that microbial diversity of the WH is significantly shaped by the type of the aquatic bodies (River Vs Lake) (ANOSIM-R of 0.94 to 0.98 and R2 of 0.36 to 0.54). Temporal variations (River WH_2020 vs WH_2022) (R of 0.8 to 1 and R2 of 0.17 to 0.41) were observed in river WH, which could be mainly attributed to the transient taxa as there was higher sharing of core bacteria (48%). Also, the WH microbiome significantly differed (R= 0.46 to 1.0 and R2 of 0.18 to 0.52) from its surrounding water. WH inhabited more unique core members (42 to 45%), suggesting vertical transfer and selectivity in the microbiome. Functional metagenomics depicted the WH microbiome to harbour 140 pollutant-degrading enzymes involved in the degradation of various xenobiotic pollutants such as hydrocarbons, plastics, and dye. Moreover, an observed higher prevalence of metal and biocide resistance genes highlighted the persistence of resistant microbes assisting WH in environmental remediation application. HighlightsO_LIWater hyacinth (WH) from urban water bodies inhabited by diverse microbial population C_LIO_LIFirst study to report variability in WH microbiome amid aquatic bodies and their environment C_LIO_LILake WH showed more unique core (43%), and River WH shared core bacteria (48%) across time C_LIO_LI140 Pollutant degrading enzymes and 341 metal resistance genes indicates remediation potential C_LI