Combating wheat yellow mosaic virus through microbial interactions and hormone pathway modulations

Area of Science:

• Plant Pathology
• Microbiome Research
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• The rhizosphere microbiome's role in plant health is established, but its function against soil-borne viral diseases like wheat yellow mosaic virus (WYMV) is understudied.
• WYMV is transmitted by Polymyxa graminis zoospores, posing a significant threat to wheat production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify microbial taxa in the wheat rhizosphere that suppress WYMV disease and enhance wheat yield.
• To understand the interactions between the plant, microbiome, and viral pathogens.

Main Methods:

• Field surveys and yield assessments across WYMV-impacted regions.
• High-throughput sequencing of plant and soil microbiomes.
• Microbial isolation, hydroponic experiments, and transcriptome sequencing.

Main Results:

• Rhizosphere microbiome composition effectively predicted wheat yield and pathogen prevalence (P. graminis, WYMV).
• Machine learning identified beneficial microbes (e.g., Sphingomonas, Rhizobium) in healthy rhizospheres and pathogens (e.g., Bipolaris) in diseased ones.
• Reintroduction of Sphingomonas azotifigens and Rhizobium deserti enhanced wheat growth and health by up-regulating auxin/cytokinin and regulating jasmonic/salicylic acid pathways.

Conclusions:

• The rhizosphere microbiome plays a critical role in combating soil-borne viral diseases in wheat.
• Specific beneficial rhizosphere microbes can be leveraged to improve wheat resilience and yield against viral infections.