Diatom-Derived Polyunsaturated Aldehydes Are Unlikely to Influence the Microbiota Composition of Laboratory-Cultured Diatoms.

Diatom-derived oxylipins, including polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUA), are considered to have infochemical, allelochemical and bacteriostatic properties, with plausible roles as grazing deterrents and regulators of inter- and intraspecific competition. However, the extent and mechanisms of how PUA influence diatom-bacteria interactions remain unresolved. In this study, impacts on the diversity of the associated bacterial communities (microbiota) of two contrasting strains (a PUA and a non-PUA producer) were investigated under three nitrate conditions in batch culture.