Background and aims

Plant growth strategies represent a gradient from slow to fast economic strategies. Rhizosphere microbiomes have a continual and profound impact on plant growth. However, our understanding of differences in plant economic spectrum among various crop varieties and their associations with rhizosphere microbiome remains limited.

Methods

Here, pepper (Capsicum spp.) was employed as a model plant to examine the differentiation of 73 varieties in plant economic strategies. Meanwhile, this study explored the associations of economic strategy differentiation with rhizosphere microbiomes.

Results

The 73 varieties displayed significant differentiation in both above- and below-ground growth traits, enabling their growth classification into fast economic strategy (FES), medium economic strategy (MES), and slow economic strategy (SES). A significantly consistent distribution was observed among plant functional traits and rhizosphere microbial communities (bacteria and protists) of SES varieties, which was not discovered in FES varieties. Compared with FES varieties, the SES varieties exhibited a lower microbial diversity and community complexity. Pepper varieties with SES were more strongly correlated with their rhizosphere microbiomes compared to FES varieties. Rhizosphere microbial and community complexity indirectly regulated above-ground growth of SES varieties by affecting the root growth and nutrient uptake.

Conclusions

Overall, these findings enhance our understanding of the connections between plant economic strategies and rhizosphere microbiomes, offering valuable insights into selection and popularization of exceptional Capsicum varieties.

中文翻译：

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根际土壤微生物组的生物多样性和网络复杂性调节辣椒生长策略的分化

 背景和目标

植物生长策略代表了从慢速到快速经济策略的梯度。根际微生物组对植物生长具有持续而深远的影响。然而，我们对不同作物品种之间植物经济谱的差异及其与根际微生物组的关系的了解仍然有限。

 方法

在这里，辣椒（Capsicum spp.）被用作模式植物，研究了 73 个品种在植物经济策略中的差异。同时，本研究探讨了经济策略分化与根际微生物组的关联。

 结果

73个品种的地上和地下生长性状均表现出显着差异，使其生长可分为快速经济策略（FES）、中经济策略（MES）和慢速经济策略（SES）。 SES品种的植物功能性状和根际微生物群落（细菌和原生生物）之间观察到显着一致的分布，而FES品种没有发现这种分布。与FES品种相比，SES品种表现出较低的微生物多样性和群落复杂性。与 FES 品种相比，具有 SES 的辣椒品种与其根际微生物组的相关性更强。根际微生物和群落复杂性通过影响根系生长和养分吸收间接调节SES品种的地上生长。

 结论

总体而言，这些发现增强了我们对植物经济策略与根际微生物组之间联系的理解，为特殊辣椒品种的选择和推广提供了宝贵的见解。