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Functional profile of the microbiome in the rhizosphere of drought- tolerant beans
Summary
Researchers investigated the functional microbiome profiles of the rhizosphere of drought-tolerant and drought-susceptible common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) cultivars under different water stress conditions using mesocosm experiments, finding distinct microbial functional signatures associated with drought tolerance. The study provides insights into how soil microorganisms contribute to crop resilience, with implications for sustainable agricultural practices that reduce the need for plastic-intensive irrigation infrastructure.
Water stress poses a significant challenge to agricultural productivity, negatively impacting the global economy and food security. Thus, it is crucial to enhance crop resilience to drought by focusing on the role of soil microorganisms. This study investigates the functional profile of the rhizosphere microbiome of drought-tolerant (BAT477 and SEA5) and susceptible (IAC Milênio and IAC-Carioca 80SH) bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars. Mesocosm experiments were conducted under different water regimes in a greenhouse, with assessments of plant height, biomass, gas exchange, nutritional content, and molecular analysis of the rhizosphere soil through metagenomic sequencing. The results revealed that tolerant cultivars exhibited a significant increase in microbial functions related to biofilm formation, dormancy survival, and oxidative stress resistance, contributing to the mitigation of water stress. In contrast, susceptible cultivars showed an increased abundance of proteins associated with cell signaling, DNA repair, and metabolic processes under extreme conditions. During the drought period, the BAT477 cultivar maintained higher photosynthesis and a lower reduction in transpiration compared to the other cultivars, while the SEA5 cultivar demonstrated the least variation in stomatal conductance. After rehydration, the tolerant cultivars partially recovered physiological functions, highlighting the resilience of the specifically selected microbiomes. Functional microbial diversity analysis revealed significant variations among the cultivars, suggesting that drought-tolerant plants can select specific microbiomes that perform crucial functions for adaptation to water stress. This study emphasizes the importance of plant- microbiome interactions in adapting to water stress and suggests that the selection of specific microbiomes could be an effective strategy for developing more drought-resilient cultivars. These insights significantly advance our understanding of plant-microbe interactions, highlighting microbial functions that could be leveraged for biotechnological solutions. Furthermore, it underscores the need for more microbial ecology studies to innovate sustainable agricultural practices