Not only humans and many foods (e.g., fruits) have microbiomes - the community of bacteria, viruses, archaea, and fungi living on and in the organism. Researchers found that trees also have microbiomes, and when a tree is diseased, the microbiome changes.
A single tree can be home to a trillion microbial cells! The microbes interact and depend on each other.
Additionally, different tree species have different microbiomes, and different parts of the tree have different microbiomes - the tree bark (sapwood) vs tree interior(heartwood). Makes sense!
Excerpts from NY Times: In Every Tree, a Trillion Tiny Lives
Scientists have found that a single tree can be home to a trillion microbial cells — an invisible ecosystem that is only beginning to be understood.
A forest is a complex, dynamic ecosystem in which a rich array of living things, from old-growth trees to microscopic fungi, interact and depend on one another for survival. ...continue reading "Every Tree Has A Microbiome"