Root microbiota regulates tiller number in rice.

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Microbiology
• Agronomy

Background:

• Rice tillering is a crucial agronomic trait influenced by genetics and environment.
• The impact of root microbiota on rice tillering remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between root microbiota composition and rice tiller number.
• To elucidate the mechanisms by which root bacteria modulate rice tillering.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of root microbiota composition and tiller numbers in 182 rice varieties.
• Cultivation of bacterial isolates to test their effect on tillering in lab and field.
• Genetic, biochemical, and structural analyses to identify the molecular mechanism.

Main Results:

• A significant correlation was found between root microbiota composition and rice tiller number.
• Bacterial isolates demonstrated the ability to regulate rice tillering.
• Cyclo(Leu-Pro) from Exiguobacterium R2567 activates the strigolactone (SL) signaling pathway by binding to OsD14, inhibiting tillering.

Conclusions:

• Root microbiota plays a significant role in regulating rice tillering.
• The cyclo(Leu-Pro) molecule mediates this regulation via the SL pathway.
• Harnessing root microbiota offers a sustainable strategy for optimizing crop growth.