Responses of maize roots, rhizosphere enzyme kinetics and prokaryote diversity to alternating precipitation: insights from a three-year field study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Understanding how annual weather variation, including droughts, affects plant roots and rhizosphere prokaryote dynamics in different years is essential for predicting plant responses to climate fluctuations. This study aimed to investigate the effects of alternating dry and moist years on maize root gene expression and rhizosphere prokaryote composition, and to reveal interactions between the two.

Methods

Zea mays B73 wild-type (WT) and a root hair-deficient mutant (rth3) were grown on two substrates during a 3-year field experiment with alternating precipitation, designated as dry, moist and dry. Root gene expression was analysed between the two dry years and the moist year, supported by superoxide dismutase activity. The rhizosphere was analysed by measuring the

SUBMITTER: Wursig H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12682858 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature