Table 1 Counts of total bacteria in root and leaf tissues among plants from Atacama Desert (Distichlis spicata and Pluchea absinthioides) and Patagonia (Gaultheria mucronata and Hieracium pilosella) determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR).

Atacama Desert

Roots

D. spicata

4.4 ± 0.4 × 10^{10 C*}

P. absinthioides

2.6 ± 0.6 × 10^{11 B}

Leaves

D. spicata

5.4 ± 1.2 × 10^{11 B}

P. absinthioides

2.7 ± 0.8 × 10^{12 A}

Patagonia

Roots

G. mucronata

1.3 ± 0.2 × 10^{13 C}

H. pilosella

8.1 ± 0.4 × 10^{13 B}

Leaves

G. mucronata

3.0 ± 1.4 × 10^{10 D}

H. pilosella

5.4 ± 1.1 × 10^{14 A}