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Genetically Modified Sugarcane Intercropping Soybean Impact on Rhizosphere Bacterial Communities and Co-occurrence
Jinlian Zhang1,2, Beilei Wei3,4, Rushuang Wen3
1State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Frontiers in Microbiology
|December 31, 2021
Summary
Genetically modified sugarcane with drought-responsive genes, when intercropped with soybeans, significantly boosts biomass and promotes beneficial soil microbes like Actinobacteria for sustainable agriculture.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Plant Biotechnology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Sustainable sugarcane cultivation increasingly utilizes drought-responsive element binding (DREB) genes and legume intercropping.
- Understanding rhizosphere microbial responses to intercropping, especially with transgenic crops, is crucial for enhancing plant growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of intercropping soybean with wild-type (WT) and genetically modified (GM) Ea-DREB2B-overexpressing sugarcane on rhizosphere microbiota.
- To assess the effects of these intercropping patterns on sugarcane and soybean biomass and soil microbial community structure.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of rhizosphere bacterial diversity in WT sugarcane-soybean and GM sugarcane-soybean intercropping systems.
- Measurement of aboveground and root biomass for both soybean and sugarcane under different cropping patterns.
- Evaluation of the rhizosphere environment for specific bacterial groups, such as Actinobacteria.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in rhizosphere microbial community composition were observed between WT and GM sugarcane intercropping patterns.
- GM sugarcane intercropped with soybean showed improved biomass compared to WT sugarcane.
- GM soybean intercropping sugarcane exhibited a 49.15% increase in aboveground and 46.03% increase in root biomass compared to monoculture.
- A rhizosphere environment favoring Actinobacteria growth was established in GM sugarcane intercropping systems.
Conclusions:
- Genetic modification of sugarcane with Ea-DREB2B enhances intercropping benefits with soybean, leading to increased biomass and improved soil microbial communities.
- This study provides a foundation for selecting optimal sugarcane-soybean intercropping strategies for sustainable agriculture.
- Utilizing genetic modification in crop production offers new avenues for optimizing intercropping systems and understanding plant-microbe interactions.
