Teosinte-derived SynCom and precision biofertilization modulate the maize microbiome, enhancing growth, yield, and...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Microbiology
• Soil Science

Background:

• Optimizing fertilization is crucial for sustainable agriculture, balancing crop yield with soil health and microbial diversity.
• Conventional fertilizers can negatively impact soil microbial communities, necessitating alternative approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of different fertilization strategies, including conventional and biofertilization, on soil microbial communities and maize performance.
• To compare manual and drone-assisted precision delivery of fertilizers.
• To investigate the potential of a synthetic microbial consortium (SynCom) derived from teosinte microbes for sustainable agriculture.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of fertilization strategies: conventional (urea, phosphorus) and biofertilization (teosinte-derived SynCom).
• Application methods: manual and drone-assisted precision delivery.
• Analysis of soil microbial communities using high-throughput sequencing.
• Microbial network analysis to assess interaction complexity.

Main Results:

• Biofertilization significantly shifted microbial communities, reducing dominant Enterobacteriaceae and increasing beneficial genera (Bacillus, Pantoea, Serratia).
• Drone-assisted conventional fertilization increased Acinetobacter and Rhizobiales.
• Microbial interaction complexity increased across treatments, with Bacillus identified as a keystone species.
• Drone-assisted biofertilization promoted intricate microbial networks, enhancing nutrient cycling and biocontrol.

Conclusions:

• Precision biofertilization with teosinte-derived SynCom offers a sustainable method to reshape the maize microbiome.
• This approach can improve crop performance and soil resilience.
• Careful monitoring is needed to ensure the stability of complex microbial interactions fostered by advanced biofertilization techniques.