Bacterial tolerance to host-exuded specialized metabolites structures the maize root microbiome.

ABSTRACT: Plants exude specialized metabolites from their roots, and these compounds are known to structure the root microbiome. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We established a representative collection of maize root bacteria and tested their tolerance against benzoxazinoids (BXs), the dominant specialized and bioactive metabolites in the root exudates of maize plants. In vitro experiments revealed that BXs inhibited bacterial growth in a strain- and compound-dependent manner. Tolerance against these selective antimicrobial compounds depended on bacterial cell wall structure. Further, we found that native root bacteria isolated from maize tolerated the BXs better compared to nonhost Arabidopsis bacteria. This finding suggests the adaptation of the root bacteria to the spec

SUBMITTER: Thoenen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10622871 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature