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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » WHGQ » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #375248
Research Project: Biology, Ecology, and Genomics of Pathogenic and Beneficial Microorganisms of Wheat, Barley, and Biofuel Brassicas

Location: Wheat Health, Genetics, and Quality Research

Title: Glutamic acid reshapes the plant microbiota to protect plants against pathogens

Author
item KIM, DA-RAN - Gyeongsang National University
item JEON, CHANG-WOOK - Gyeongsang National University
item CHO, GYEONGJUN - Gyeongsang National University
item Thomashow, Linda
item Weller, David
item PAIK, MAN-JEONG - Suncheon National University
item LEE, YONG BOK - Gyeongsang National University
item KWAK, YOUN-SIG - Gyeongsang National University

Submitted to: Microbiome
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/27/2021
Publication Date: 12/20/2021
Citation: Kim, D., Jeon, C., Cho, G., Thomashow, L.S., Weller, D.M., Paik, M., Lee, Y., Kwak, Y. 2021. Glutamic acid reshapes the plant microbiota to protect plants against pathogens. Microbiome. 9. Article 244. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-021-01186-8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-021-01186-8

Interpretive Summary: The plant microbiome has an important effect on the growth and health of the plant. The composition of the microbome also is flexible depending on the host and the environment. However, the mechanisms that control the structure of the microbiome community are unknown. Here, we show that the compound glutamic acid can control the makeup of the microbiome and selects for certain important beneficial organisms on blossoms of strawberry and roots of tomato. When sprayed with glutamic acid, populations of Streptomyces bacteria increased on strawberry flowers and when drenched with the compound, Burkholderia bacteria were enriched on the roots. At the same time, the occurrence of disease was reduced and plant resistance-related genes were not activated, indicating that the treatment affected the microbiome directly and not the host’s own protective mechanisms. Our results demonstrate that the microbiome community can be engineered and unlocks the mode of action of the glutamic acid.

Technical Abstract: The plant microbiome has a significant effect on the physiology and growth of its host. The composition of the microbiome also is flexible, responding to the state of the host and the environment. However, the precise mechanisms that govern microbiome community structure are unknown. Here we show that glutamic acid, a biostimulator, reshapes the microbial community and selects for a functional keystone microbe both above and below ground of strawberry and tomato. Upon application of glutamic acid, the population of Streptomyces globisporus SP6C45 increased dramatically in the anthosphere and Burkholderiaceae were enriched in the rhizosphere. At the same time, disease occurrence was significantly suppressed but plant resistance-related genes were not activated, indicating that the biostimulator directly modulates the microbiome and not the host’s own protective mechanisms. Our results demonstrate that the microbiome community can be engineered and unlocks the mode of action of the biostimulator.