Phosphorus availability influences disease-suppressive soil microbiome through plant-microbe interactions.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Soil Science
• Plant Pathology

Background:

• Soil nutrients and diseases critically affect intensive agriculture.
• Understanding nutrient impacts on soil-borne disease suppression is vital.
• Phosphorus (P) was investigated for its role in disease suppression and plant-microbe interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the mechanisms by which phosphorus availability influences soil-borne disease suppression.
• To explore the role of plant-microbial interactions in this process.

Main Methods:

• A 6-year field trial with tomatoes under varied fertilizer regimes.
• Greenhouse experiments varying phosphorus availability for pathogen-challenged tomatoes.
• Analysis of rhizosphere and bulk soil microbiome, root metabolites, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

Main Results:

• Phosphorus availability is key in controlling bacterial wilt disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum.
• Alleviating phosphorus stress boosted rhizosphere microbiome's disease-suppressive capacity.
• Adequate phosphorus increased beneficial root metabolites and biocontrol microbes (e.g., Chryseobacterium).
• Phosphorus deficiency promoted arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis for nutrient acquisition.

Conclusions:

• Phosphorus availability modulates soil microbiome's disease suppression via plant-microbial interactions.
• Optimizing nutrient regimes enhances disease suppression and agricultural productivity.
• Findings support targeted crop management strategies.