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Bacillus sp. WR12 alleviates iron deficiency in wheat via enhancing siderophore- and phenol-mediated iron acquisition in roots

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Abstract

Purpose

Iron (Fe) deficiency seriously affects crop growth and yield. This study investigated whether and how an endophytic isolate, strain Bacillus sp. WR12, alleviates Fe deficiency in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Methods

Bacillus sp. WR12 and wheat seedlings were hydroponically co-cultured for 2 weeks under Fe-deficient conditions. To evaluate the Fe deficiency alleviating potential, wheat growth parameters were compared. To elucidate possible mechanisms, the genome of WR12 was sequenced, and production of siderophores was detected. In addition, transcriptomes of wheat root were compared, and accumulation of phenolic compounds was measured.

Results

Bacillus sp. WR12 significantly increased root length and dry weight, leaf chlorophyll content and Fe content in Fe-deficient wheat seedlings. Genome analysis of WR12 and CAS agar diffusion test demonstrated that WR12 had a dhbACEBF operon and produced siderophores. Significant upregulation of this operon and more siderophore synthesis in WR12 were observed when Fe was insufficient. Transcriptomic data of roots indicated change of expression of a large number of genes in Fe-deficient wheat after WR12 inoculation. Particularly, PAL, CYP73A, COMT, F5H, HCT and CAD genes involved in phenylpropane biosynthesis were significantly up-regulated. Moreover, elevated phenol accumulation was detected in the root of wheat after inoculation with WR12 under Fe deficiency.

Conclusions

Bacillus sp. WR12 alleviates Fe deficiency in wheat and this can be partially attributed to enhanced siderophore production and phenol accumulation.

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Abbreviations

B :

Bacillus

PGPB:

Plant growth promoting bacteria

LB:

Luria-Bertani

RNA-seq:

RNA sequencing

DEGs:

Differentially expressed genes

GO:

Gene ontology

KEGG:

Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes

CAS:

Chrome azurol sulphonate

FOE:

ferrioxamine E

DHBA:

Dihydroxybenzoic acid

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 32071478), the Henan Provincial Department of Science and Technology (No. 192102310137) and the Education Department of Henan Province (No. 19A180034).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Life Sciences and Agronomy, Zhoukou Normal University, Room 407, Life Science Building, East Wenchang Road, Chuanhui District, Zhoukou, 466001, China

    Zonghao Yue, Yuwen Hao, Congcong Wang, Zhifeng Zhang, Can Chen, Hongzhan Liu, Yongchuang Liu, Lili Li & Zhongke Sun

  2. School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou, 466001, China

    Yanjuan Chen

Authors
  1. Zonghao Yue
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  2. Yanjuan Chen
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  3. Yuwen Hao
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  4. Congcong Wang
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  5. Zhifeng Zhang
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  6. Can Chen
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  7. Hongzhan Liu
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  8. Yongchuang Liu
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  9. Lili Li
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  10. Zhongke Sun
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Contributions

Yue ZH and Sun ZK conceived the experiments. Yue ZH, Chen YJ, Hao YW, Wang CC, Zhang ZF and Sun ZK carried out the experimental work. Chen C, Liu HZ, Liu YC and Li LL analyzed the data. Yue ZH prepared the draft manuscript. Sun ZH provided all required material and finalized the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Lili Li or Zhongke Sun.

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Yue, Z., Chen, Y., Hao, Y. et al. Bacillus sp. WR12 alleviates iron deficiency in wheat via enhancing siderophore- and phenol-mediated iron acquisition in roots. Plant Soil 471, 247–260 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05218-y

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