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

Author

Listed:
  • Liyu Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Meiling Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Shuyu Huang

    (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Lujun Li

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Qiang Gao

    (Jilin Agricultural University)

  • Yin Wang

    (Jilin Agricultural University)

  • Shuiqing Zhang

    (Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Shaomin Huang

    (Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Liang Yuan

    (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Yanchen Wen

    (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Kailou Liu

    (National Engineering and Technology Research Center for Red Soil Improvement)

  • Xichu Yu

    (National Engineering and Technology Research Center for Red Soil Improvement)

  • Dongchu Li

    (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Lu Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Xinpeng Xu

    (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Hailei Wei

    (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Ping He

    (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Wei Zhou

    (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Laurent Philippot

    (Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, INRAE, AgroSup Dijon, Agroécologie)

  • Chao Ai

    (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

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) consisting of two core diazotrophs and two helpers. GFP-tagged strains and 15N isotopic dilution method demonstrated that these SynComs do thrive and contribute, through biological nitrogen fixation, 11.8% of the total N accumulated in maize stems. These core taxa in xylem sap represent an untapped resource that can be exploited to increase crop productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Liyu Zhang & Meiling Zhang & Shuyu Huang & Lujun Li & Qiang Gao & Yin Wang & Shuiqing Zhang & Shaomin Huang & Liang Yuan & Yanchen Wen & Kailou Liu & Xichu Yu & Dongchu Li & Lu Zhang & Xinpeng Xu & Ha, 2022. "A highly conserved core bacterial microbiota with nitrogen-fixation capacity inhabits the xylem sap in maize plants," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-31113-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31113-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Keara L. Grady & Jackson W. Sorensen & Nejc Stopnisek & John Guittar & Ashley Shade, 2019. "Assembly and seasonality of core phyllosphere microbiota on perennial biofuel crops," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Jin Xu & Yunzeng Zhang & Pengfan Zhang & Pankaj Trivedi & Nadia Riera & Yayu Wang & Xin Liu & Guangyi Fan & Jiliang Tang & Helvécio D. Coletta-Filho & Jaime Cubero & Xiaoling Deng & Veronica Ancona & , 2018. "The structure and function of the global citrus rhizosphere microbiome," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yanyan Zhou & Donghui Liu & Fengqiao Li & Yuanhua Dong & Zhili Jin & Yangwenke Liao & Xiaohui Li & Shuguang Peng & Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo & Xiaogang Li, 2024. "Superiority of native soil core microbiomes in supporting plant growth," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.

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