Cross-Kingdom Communication: Root-Derived Volatile Methyl Jasmonate Signals Host-Beneficial Biofilm Formation in the Soil Microbiome.
Information
The rhizosphere is the region surrounding plant roots that contains a diverse range of exudates and soil organisms which influence both below- and aboveground processes in plants. Microbial communities within the rhizosphere occupy a distinct millimeter-scale niche separate from non-root-associated soil. While soil microbiota typically prefers a surface-attached biofilm lifestyle over other environments, little is understood about the long-distance cross-kingdom signalling between the soil microbiome and plants below ground.
To address this knowledge gap, we developed a novel airflow system called the "push-pull system" to investigate how rVOCs affect soil microbiome leading to biofilm formation. Our experiments involving Arabidopsis and various plant species from different groups revealed that rVOCs promote biofilm formation in soil microbiomes. We've identified methyl jasmonate (MeJA) as the primary bioactive rVOC responsible for inducing biofilm formation. Additionally, we've observed that approximately 10% of the taxa within the soil biofilm community exhibited changes in abundance upon MeJA exposure, suggesting their role as MeJA-responsive taxa in inducing biofilms. These induced biofilms, triggered by rVOCs and MeJA, have the capacity to modulate JA and auxin signaling within the plant system through VOC-mediated interactions, ultimately fostering plant growth. Our current focus lies in studying the molecular mechanisms underlying cross-kingdom VOC-mediated signaling of biofilm generation and its impact on enhancing plant growth.
These findings hint at a co-evolutionary process wherein a well-known plant defence hormone is released by plant roots as VOCs and co-opted to assemble beneficial biofilms in the soil, supporting the concept of extended rhizosphere. These overall discoveries broaden our understanding of the mechanistic link between plant biomass and soil biofilm-associated microbiota, which can significantly impact agro-ecosystems through eco-inspired solutions. The development of a potent agrochemical derived from this discovery could lead to the creation of more beneficial biofilms, enhancing plant growth and ultimately increasing productivity.
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