Simulated microgravity shapes the endophytic bacterial community by affecting wheat root metabolism

Area of Science:

• Plant biology
• Microbiology
• Space science

Background:

• Understanding microgravity's impact on plant root microbiomes is vital for space agriculture.
• Current knowledge on microgravity's effects on root microbial communities is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of simulated microgravity on the fungal and bacterial communities in wheat roots.
• To understand plant adaptation strategies and metabolic changes in response to microgravity.

Main Methods:

• Simulated microgravity experiments on wheat seedlings.
• Analysis of fungal and bacterial community composition and diversity (rhizosphere and endophytic).
• Metabolomic analysis of host plant pathways.

Main Results:

• Simulated microgravity did not significantly alter fungal communities (rhizosphere or endophytic).
• Significant changes were observed in endophytic bacterial composition and diversity, but not rhizosphere bacteria.
• Wheat seedlings recruited endophytic Enterobacteriaceae and stabilized bacterial networks.
• Microgravity-induced bacterial changes correlated with decreased host metabolites in carbon metabolism, flavonoid, benzoxazinoid, and tryptophan pathways.

Conclusions:

• Microgravity significantly impacts the endophytic bacterial community of wheat seedlings.
• Wheat seedlings exhibit adaptive strategies involving specific bacterial recruitment and metabolic adjustments.
• Findings provide a basis for manipulating plant-microbe interactions for space cultivation.