Bacterial community in the rhizosphere of the cactus species Mammillaria carnea during dry and rainy seasons assessed by deep sequencing

Background and aims The Tehuacan-Cuitcatlan reserve is an area of unique plant biodiversity mostly in the form of xerophytes, with exceptionally high numbers of rare and endemic species. This endemism results partly from the characteristics of the climate of this area, with two distinct seasons: rainy and dry seasons. Although rhizosphere communities must be critical in the function of this ecosystem, understanding the structure of these communities is currently limited. This is the first molecular study of the microbial diversity present in the rhizosphere of Mamillaria carnea.