Co-assembly of Azospirillum-Pseudomonas biofilms in the rhizosphere enhances lettuce root colonization, growth, and heat-stress resilience.

ABSTRACT: Understanding plant growth-promoting bacteria interaction is essential for developing of effective multi-strain inoculants. Here, we investigated how Azospirillum baldaniorum Sp245 and Pseudomonas fluorescens A506 interact when establishing biofilms under rhizospheric conditions and its impact on root colonization and plant growth. Mixed biofilms assembled in vitro on root exudates revealed competition between both strains, with Sp245 outcompeting A506. On lettuce roots, they formed spatially segregated biofilms according to their individual niche preferences: Sp245 exhibited dense biofilms on and along the main root, while A506 grew preferentially associated to root hairs. Both strains co-localized only in certain hotspots on the root surface and hairs bases. Yet when colonizing roots in

SUBMITTER: Diaz PR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12671052 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature