Functional assembly of root‐associated microbial consortia improves nutrient efficiency and yield in soybean

Abstract

Root‐associated microbes are critical for plant growth and nutrient acquisition. However, scant information exists on optimizing communities of beneficial root‐associated microbes or the mechanisms underlying their interactions with host plants. In this report, we demonstrate that root‐associated microbes are critical influencers of host plant growth and nutrient acquisition. Three synthetic communities (SynComs) were constructed based on functional screening of 1,893 microbial strains isolated from root‐associated compartments of soybean plants. Functional assemblage of SynComs promoted significant plant growth and nutrient acquisition under both N/P nutrient deficiency and sufficiency conditions. Field trials further revealed that application of SynComs stably and significantly promoted plant growth, facilitated N and P acquisition, and subsequently increased soybean yield. Among the tested communities, SynCom1 exhibited the greatest promotion effect, with yield increases of up to 36.1% observed in two field sites. Further RNA‐seq implied that SynCom application systemically regulates N and P signaling networks at the transcriptional level, which leads to increased representation of important growth pathways, especially those related to auxin responses. Overall, this study details a promising strategy for constructing SynComs based on functional screening, which are capable of enhancing nutrient acquisition and crop yield through the activities of beneficial root‐associated microbes.

Plant Triterpenoids Regulate Endophyte Community to Promote Medicinal Plant Schisandra sphenanthera Growth and Metabolites Accumulation

“…Three plants were sown in each pot, and three pots were set up for each treatment. For the construction of the synthetic community (SynCom), a total of 52 isolates were selected from diverse taxa [14]. The strain composition of the six SynComs was based on Tables S1 and S2.…”

“…Plant secondary metabolites can exert a wide spectrum of effects upon individual microbial strains by functioning as signaling molecules, nutrient sources, or toxins [12]. In return, microbes promote host plant growth and health through enhancement of nutrient uptake, inhibition of pathogens, and maintenance of community stability [9,13,14]. Triterpenoid derivatives have functions in plant defense, signaling, and antimicrobial activity.…”

“…Recent studies demonstrated that triterpenoids can selectively regulate the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana root bacteria from different taxa [8]. With respect to the microbiome, endophytes affect plant growth and development by enhancing nutrient uptake, producing indole acetic acid, and alleviating stresses [14]. Endophytic microbial strains form a stable community structure through cooperation and competition to survive in and colonize plants [15][16][17][18][19].…”

“…Endophytic microbial strains form a stable community structure through cooperation and competition to survive in and colonize plants [15][16][17][18][19]. For example, previous studies on A. thaliana, soybean, tomato, garlic, and Salvia miltiorrhiza demonstrated that microbial interactions play an essential role in plant growth, health, and metabolite accumulation through some mechanisms including increasing antibiotic secretion, promoting biofilm formation and growth, and influencing metabolic pathways [14,[20][21][22][23][24][25].…”

Oil crops: From the classical traits to genetic improvement

“…These microorganisms could be beneficial, detrimental, or neutral to plant development and/or nutrients absorption. Wang et al explore the microbial strains associated with soybean roots (2021). Potential beneficial strains were selected and constructed as synthetic communities, which improve soybean growth and nutrients usage both under lab condition and in field test.…”