Rhizosphere microorganisms can influence the timing of plant flowering

Microbiome

Josep Peñuelas¹  Zhengwei Fu²  Mingjing Ke³  Tao Lu³  Zhenyan Zhang³  Yujian Jin³  Liwei Sun³  Haifeng Qian³  Xiaoji Fan³  Michael Gillings⁴  Yong-Guan Zhu⁵  Michel Lavoie⁶ 

[1] CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB;College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology;College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology;Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University;Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences;Quebec-Ocean and Takuvik Joint International Research Unit, Université Laval;

关键词: Rhizosphere;    Microbiota;    Root exudate;    Nitrogen;    Indole acetic acid;    Arabidopsis;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40168-018-0615-0

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Plant phenology has crucial biological, physical, and chemical effects on the biosphere. Phenological drivers have largely been studied, but the role of plant microbiota, particularly rhizosphere microbiota, has not been considered. Results We discovered that rhizosphere microbial communities could modulate the timing of flowering of Arabidopsis thaliana. Rhizosphere microorganisms that increased and prolonged N bioavailability by nitrification delayed flowering by converting tryptophan to the phytohormone indole acetic acid (IAA), thus downregulating genes that trigger flowering, and stimulating further plant growth. The addition of IAA to hydroponic cultures confirmed this metabolic network. Conclusions We document a novel metabolic network in which soil microbiota influenced plant flowering time, thus shedding light on the key role of soil microbiota on plant functioning. This opens up multiple opportunities for application, from helping to mitigate some of the effects of climate change and environmental stress on plants (e.g. abnormal temperature variation, drought, salinity) to manipulating plant characteristics using microbial inocula to increase crop potential.

【 授权许可】

Unknown