Medium Summary
Despite advances in microbiome research across various environments, the microbiome within living tree wood remains understudied. This study reveals that a single tree contains approximately one trillion bacteria in its woody tissues, with distinct microbial communities in heartwood and sapwood. The heartwood microbiome is especially unique, containing specialized archaea and anaerobic bacteria involved in important biogeochemical processes. These findings emphasize the concept of trees as holobionts—integrated units of host and microbes—with implications for tree health and forest ecology.
