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

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, Hailei Wei, Ping He, Wei Zhou, Laurent Philippot () and Chao Ai ()
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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

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31113-w

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