The Microbial Life on Wild Berries: A positive Influence or a Potential Health Risk?

By: Gissel De La Rosa

Distribution of bacterial microorganisms on lingonberries, rosehips, and rowanberries at phylum (A), class (B), and family (C) levels. (D) Heatmap of the most common genera of bacteria. RC, rosehip; SA, rowanberry; VVI, lingonberry. (Vepštaitė-Monstavičė et al. 2024)

In Northern Europe, wild berries like lingonberries, rowanberries, and rose hips gained recognition for their vitamins, antioxidants, and health benefits, but there is still limited information on the microbial communities of bacteria and fungi that live on them. Researchers discovered that each berry type hosts a unique population of microbes by using advanced DNA sequencing to analyze the microbes covering the fruits and grew yeasts in the lab to study them closely. On lingonberries, the main bacteria were Methylobacterium and Sphingomonas, which help protect the plant from disease and produce natural compounds that fight harmful germs. Rowanberries carried a broader mix, primarily with Sphingomonas, Hymenobacter, and Methylobacterium; microbes known for surviving in harsh conditions and possibly helping plants cope with stress. In contrast, rose hips were dominated by bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family and Pseudomonas, groups known to produce human infections and cause food spoilage, highlighting the need for careful handling. Regarding fungi, the populations differed. Lingonberries were mostly covered by fungi from the Exobasidium group, which attack plants. Rose hips carried fungi such as Dothiora and Aureobasidium, linked to food spoilage. Rowanberries, however, had a more diverse fungal community, including Aureobasidium and Vishniacozyma, some of which may help protect the fruit from disease. This research is vital for a better understanding of the microbial ecosystems on berries to improve handling, ensure food safety, and discover new biotechnological or health-related applications.

Original article: Vepštaitė-Monstavičė I, Lukša J, Strazdaitė-Žielienė Ž, Serva S, Servienė E. 2024. Distinct microbial communities associated with health-relevant wild berries. Environmental Microbiology Reports 16(6):e70048. doi:10.1111/1758-2229.70048