A highly conserved core bacterial microbiota with nitrogen-fixation capacity inhabits the xylem sap in maize plants.

ABSTRACT: Microbiomes are important for crop performance. However, a deeper knowledge of crop-associated microbial communities is needed to harness beneficial host-microbe interactions. Here, by assessing the assembly and functions of maize microbiomes across soil types, climate zones, and genotypes, we found that the stem xylem selectively recruits highly conserved microbes dominated by Gammaproteobacteria. We showed that the proportion of bacterial taxa carrying the nitrogenase gene (nifH) was larger in stem xylem than in other organs such as root and leaf endosphere. Of the 25 core bacterial taxa identified in xylem sap, several isolated strains were confirmed to be active nitrogen-fixers or to assist with biological nitrogen fixation. On this basis, we established synthetic communities (SynComs)

SUBMITTER: Zhang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9187771 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature