How Plant Generations Can Boost Disease Resistance Through Soil Microbes

Greg Howard
4th July, 2024

How Plant Generations Can Boost Disease Resistance Through Soil Microbes

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study from Zhejiang University of Technology explored how Arabidopsis thaliana plants defend against pathogens by recruiting beneficial bacteria to their rhizosphere
  • Over multiple generations, plants exposed to the pathogen Pseudomonas syringae showed improved growth and increased disease resistance by the third generation
  • This enhanced resilience was linked to the enrichment of beneficial rhizosphere bacteria, such as Bacillus and Bacteroides, which help with nutrient absorption and pathogen suppression
Understanding how plants defend themselves against pathogens is crucial for sustainable agriculture. Recent research from Zhejiang University of Technology[1] sheds light on this process, revealing how plants can recruit beneficial bacteria to their rhizosphere (the soil region influenced by root secretions) and pass these advantages on to subsequent generations. This study used advanced microbiomic (study of microbial communities) and transcriptomic (study of RNA transcripts) analyses to explore these mechanisms in Arabidopsis thaliana, a model plant species. The research focused on how continuous exposure to the pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000 affected Arabidopsis thaliana over multiple generations. Findings showed that the third generation of plants exhibited improved growth and increased disease resistance. This enhanced resilience was linked to the enrichment of specific rhizosphere bacteria, such as Bacillus and Bacteroides. These bacteria are known for their beneficial roles in plant health, including nutrient absorption and pathogen suppression[2]. The study also identified that pathways associated with plant immunity and growth were activated under the influence of these rhizosphere bacterial communities. Key pathways included MAPK signaling, phytohormone signal transduction, ABC transporter proteins, and flavonoid biosynthesis. These pathways are crucial for plant defense and development, suggesting that the beneficial bacteria help prime the plant's immune system and promote growth. Previous research has shown that plants can influence their root microbiome through root exudates and immune responses to build healthy microbial communities[2]. For instance, plants exposed to foliar pathogens can alter their root exudation patterns, recruiting beneficial microbes that enhance disease resistance in subsequent generations[3]. This new study builds on these findings by providing a detailed look at the specific bacterial communities and genetic pathways involved in this process. Moreover, the concept of crop rotation has been shown to assemble distinct core microbiota that act as barriers against pathogens[4]. The new study aligns with this concept by demonstrating that beneficial microbes can be recruited and retained across plant generations, offering a form of biological legacy that enhances disease resistance and growth. The study's methodologies included microbiomic analyses to identify the bacterial communities present in the rhizosphere and transcriptomic analyses to understand the gene expression changes in the plants. By combining these approaches, the researchers were able to link specific microbial communities with the activation of plant defense and growth pathways. This integrative approach provides a comprehensive understanding of how beneficial microbes and plant genes interact to enhance plant resilience. In another relevant study, successive plantings of wheat were shown to shape the rhizosphere microbial communities, accumulating beneficial microbes that suppress soilborne fungal pathogens and promote plant growth[5]. The current research extends this concept to Arabidopsis thaliana and bacterial pathogens, highlighting the broad applicability of these findings across different plant-pathogen systems. In summary, the study from Zhejiang University of Technology provides valuable insights into the mechanisms by which plants recruit beneficial microbes to their rhizosphere and pass these advantages on to future generations. By understanding these processes, we can develop better strategies for plant management, reducing the reliance on chemical pesticides and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

GeneticsBiochemPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Multigenerational Adaptation Can Enhance the Pathogen Resistance of Plants via Changes in Rhizosphere Microbial Community Assembly.

Published 3rd July, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.4c02200

Related Studies

2) The root microbiome: Community assembly and its contributions to plant fitness.

https://doi.org/10.1111/jipb.13226

3) Root exudates drive the soil-borne legacy of aboveground pathogen infection.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-018-0537-x

4) Selection of rhizosphere communities of diverse rotation crops reveals unique core microbiome associated with reduced banana Fusarium wilt disease.

https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.18816

5) Rhizosphere community selection reveals bacteria associated with reduced root disease.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-020-00997-5


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