Photosynthate distribution determines spatial patterns in the rhizosphere microbiota of the maize root system

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 7286 - 16
• Main Authors: Schultes, Sina R., Rüger, Lioba, Niedeggen, Daniela, Freudenthal, Jule, Frindte, Katharina, Becker, Maximilian F., Metzner, Ralf, Pflugfelder, Daniel, Chlubek, Antonia, Hinz, Carsten, van Dusschoten, Dagmar, Bauke, Sara L., Bonkowski, Michael, Watt, Michelle, Koller, Robert, Knief, Claudia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 07.08.2025; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 45/71; 45/77; 631/158/855; 631/326/2565/2134; 631/449/1736; 704/47/4113; Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - metabolism; Carbon; Carbon - metabolism; Carbon 13; Carbon Isotopes - metabolism; Community structure; Corn; Food chains; Food webs; Fungi - metabolism; Heterogeneity; Humanities and Social Sciences; Isotopic tracers; Labeling; Localization; Magnetic resonance imaging; Microbiomes; Microbiota; Microbiota - physiology; Microorganisms; multidisciplinary; Pattern formation; Phenotyping; Photosynthesis - physiology; Plant roots; Plant Roots - metabolism; Plant Roots - microbiology; Positron emission; Positron emission tomography; Predators; Rhizosphere; Rhizosphere microorganisms; Roots; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Soil - chemistry; Soil Microbiology; Spatial discrimination; Spatial heterogeneity; Spatial variations; Zea mays - metabolism; Zea mays - microbiology

The spatial variation and underlying mechanisms of pattern formation in the rhizosphere microbiome are not well understood. We demonstrate that specific patterns in the distribution of recently fixed carbon within the plant root system influence the spatial organization of the rhizosphere microbiota...