Changes of microbiome in wheat under head blight stress and its correlation with disease occurrence

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the plant microbiome changes in response to wheat head blight and the correlation between the abundance of differential microorganisms and the pathogen Fusarium graminearum, and elucidate the intricate interplay between plant microbiome and disease occurrence.Methods We collected samples from both healthy and diseased plants in the field, combined with high-throughput sequencing to analyze the characteristics of plant microbiome changes, and the abundance of pathogen was determined by RT-qPCR to reveal the response of plant microbial community changes to wheat head blight.Results The alpha diversity of bacteria in wheat spikes and fungi in the rhizosphere significant increased under the disease stress, with enrichment of potentially beneficial bacteria in spikes of diseased wheat plants. Healthy plants displayed higher stability of microbial community and network than diseased plants. Plant microbial diversity can predict alterations in pathogen abundance. Notably, the microbial diversity and community stability explained the most (76.95%) variations in pathogen abundance. High fungal diversity and community stability were associated with reduced pathogen colonization.Conclusion Significant discrepancies of the plant microbiome were identified between healthy and diseased plants. The stable microbial community and network interactions in the spikes of healthy plants facilitate the resistance against F. graminearum infection. Additionally, the “call for help” phenomenon was observed as wheat plants recruited beneficial microflora in spikes, expanding the applicability of the “call for help” strategy. By examining the connection between plant microbiome and disease occurrence, this study presents crucial data and a theoretical framework for the targeted manipulation of plant microbiome to enhance disease prevention and control.