Integrative analysis of microbiome and metabolome revealed the effect of microbial inoculant on microbial community diversity and function in rhizospheric soil under tobacco monoculture
Authors: Lai Xianjun , Duan Wangjun , Zhang Wenyou , Peng Zhengsong , Wang Xianjun , Wang Haiyan , Qi Xiaobo , Pi Huaqiang , Chen Kailu , Yan Lang 
Published: July 2024

Over-application of chemical fertilizers and continuous cropping obstacles seriously restrict the sustainable development of tobacco production. Localized fertilization of beneficial microbes has potential advantages in achieving higher productivity, but the underlying biological mechanisms of interactions between rhizospheric microorganisms and the related metabolic cycle remain poorly characterized. Here, an integrative analysis of microbiomes with non-targeted metabolomics was performed on 30 soil samples of rhizosphere, root surrounding, and bulk soils from flue‐cured tobacco under continuous and non-continuous monocropping systems. The analysis was conducted using UPLC-MS/MS platforms and high-throughput amplicon sequencing targeting the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS gene. The microbial inoculant consisted of
Bacillus subtilis
,
B. velezensis,
and
B. licheniformis
at the ratio of 1:1:1 in effective microbial counts, improved the cured leaf yield and disease resistance of tobacco, and enhanced nicotine and nitrogen contents of tobacco leaves. The bacterial taxa
Rhizobium
,
Pseudomonas
,
Sphingomonadaceae
, and
Burkholderiaceae
of the phylum
Proteobacteria
accumulated in high relative abundance and were identified as biomarkers following the application of the microbial inoculant. Under continuous monocropping, metabolomics demonstrated that the application of the microbial inoculant significantly affected the soil metabolite spectrum, and the differential metabolites were significantly enriched to the synthesis and degradation of nicotine (nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism and biosynthesis of alkaloids derived from nicotinic acid). In addition, microbes were closely related to the accumulation of metabolites through correlation analysis. The interactions between plant roots and rhizospheric microorganisms provide valuable information for understanding how these beneficial microbes affect complex biological processes and the adaption capacity of plants to environments.

IMPORTANCE

This study elaborated on how the microbial fertilizer significantly changed overall community structures and metabolite spectrum of rhizospheric microbes, which provide insights into the process of rhizosphere microbial remolding in response to continuous monocropping. we verified the hypothesis that the application of the microbial inoculant in continuous cropping would lead to the selection of distinct microbiota communities by establishing models to correlate biomarkers. Through correlation analysis of the microbiome and metabolome, we proved that rhizospheric microbes were closely related to the accumulation of metabolites, including the synthesis and degradation of nicotine. The interactions between plant roots and rhizospheric microorganisms provide valuable information for understanding how these beneficial microbes affect complex biological processes and the adaption capacity of plants to environments.