Rhizosphere最新文献

{"title":"Intraspecific variation in root economics space by branching order of fine roots across a shallow soil depth gradient in Cryptomeria japonica forest","authors":"Yusuke Tawa ,&nbsp;Naoki Makita ,&nbsp;Hiroshi Takeda","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101296","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101296","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fine root traits are key indicators of a tree's survival strategy, structured by both root order and environmental factors such as soil depth. We investigated intraspecific variation within the Root Economics Space (RES) - a framework integrating trait variations and ecological trade-offs along two independent axes: conservation and collaboration gradients. Four key traits - specific root length, root tissue density, average diameter, and nitrogen concentration - were analyzed in <em>Cryptomeria japonica</em> fine roots (first-third order) across a shallow soil depth gradient. All traits varied with both root order and soil depth. The two-dimensional RES was evident in first- and second-order roots, whereas the conservation gradient was absent in third-order roots. Biplots showed sample segregation by soil depth, identifying it as a key structuring factor at the intraspecific level. These findings affirm that subtle environmental and morphological variations drive substantial functional differentiation within fine root systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101296"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Excess phosphorus increases phosphatase activity and alters phoD-harboring bacterial ecotypes in the pepper rhizosphere","authors":"Fansheng Kong ,&nbsp;Weihua Su ,&nbsp;Chunyan Zhang ,&nbsp;Shunli Liu ,&nbsp;Prakash Lakshmanan ,&nbsp;Yutao Cui ,&nbsp;Wei Zhang ,&nbsp;Xinping Chen ,&nbsp;Ming Lang","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101290","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101290","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The influence of excessive phosphorus (P) fertilization on microbially associated organic P mineralization in the rhizosphere of intensively managed vegetable crops remains poorly understood. To clarify the responses of the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) <em>phoD</em>-harboring bacterial communities to P transformation in vegetable systems, a field experiment with pepper was conducted in southwestern China under three P application levels (CK, low P (LP), and high P (HP)). Bulk and rhizosphere soils were sampled across three key pepper growth stages for systematic analysis. Our results demonstrated that ALP activity was 16.7% higher in the rhizosphere than in bulk soil. Under HP treatment, ALP activity significantly increased by 31.7% and 28.2% compared with the CK and LP treatments, respectively. Random forest and correlation analyses revealed that increasing P input shifted keystone <em>phoD</em>-harboring bacteria from the oligotrophic genus <em>Lysobacter</em> to the copiotrophic genus <em>Bradyrhizobium</em>. Compared to CK and LP treatments, the relative abundance of specialists decreased by 15.0% and 9.0% under HP, whereas that of opportunists increased by 13.0% and 6.0%, respectively. Notably, the abundance of opportunists exhibited a positive correlation with both available P (AP) and ALP activity, while specialists showed negative correlations. The decline in specialists abundance was further associated with a simplified co-occurrence, characterized by decreased modularity, increased average path length and a reduction in the number of keystone taxa. Collectively, these findings illuminate how excessive P input alters the interrelationships among AP, ALP activity, and the <em>phoD</em>-harboring bacterial community, ultimately driving a shift from specialist-to opportunist-dominated ecotypes in the pepper rhizosphere.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101290"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genomic comparative analysis of Bradyrhizobium elkanii strains: Exploring the diversity of nod factors","authors":"Igor Daniel Alves Ribeiro ,&nbsp;Anderson José Scherer ,&nbsp;Manuel Megías ,&nbsp;Francisco J. Ollero ,&nbsp;Luciane Maria Pereira Passaglia","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101256","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101256","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Bradyrhizobium elkanii</em> is an important rhizobial species that nodulates a wide range of legumes, including soybean, and is widely used as an inoculant to enhance biological nitrogen fixation. This symbiosis is mediated by chemical signaling between plant flavonoids and bacterial nodulation factors (NFs; lipo-chitooligosaccharides, LCOs), whose structural diversity determines host specificity. In addition, genes related to plant growth–promoting (PGP) traits contribute to efficient root colonization and symbiotic performance.</div><div>Here, we performed a comparative genomic analysis of five <em>B. elkanii</em> strains from distinct geographic origins within the SEMIA collection (SEMIA 5011, SEMIA 5026, SEMIA 5027, SEMIA 5019, and SEMIA 587), including two elite inoculant strains, focusing on nodulation gene repertoires and NF profiles. A broader comparison including 56 genomes revealed a open pangenome, characterized by a large accessory fraction enriched in mobilome-related functions, while the core genome was dominated by housekeeping genes.</div><div>PGP gene profiles were largely conserved among strains, encompassing functions associated with phytohormone production, stress mitigation, and plant interaction. Nodulation gene repertoires comprised 25–33 genes organized into four to six clusters. A conserved main nod cluster was identified in all five SEMIA strains and was predicted to be plasmid-associated. NF profiling revealed 37 variants composed of three to five N-acetylglucosamine residues and four major types of chemical modifications. Overall, this study provides new insights into the genomic diversity, nodulation gene architecture, and NF variability of <em>B. elkanii</em>, contributing to a better understanding of the molecular basis underlying symbiotic interactions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101256"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cd-immobilizing strain combined with pig manure biochar regulates rhizosphere microecology to reduce Cd absorption by wheat","authors":"Zhipeng Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaofei Liu ,&nbsp;Tao Peng ,&nbsp;Shasha Huang ,&nbsp;Weifeng Zhao ,&nbsp;Li Chen ,&nbsp;Hui Han","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101249","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101249","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil functional microorganisms and biochar regulate the chemical speciation of Cd, thereby influencing its uptake by crops. However, the effects of Cd-immobilizing bacteria combined with biochar on Cd speciation in wheat fields and subsequent Cd accumulation in wheat remain unclear. This study investigated the impacts and underlying soil mechanisms of applying the urease-producing bacterium <em>Enterobacter</em> sp. TJ6 and pig manure biochar (PMB) on wheat growth and Cd uptake using pot experiments. Results demonstrated that the combined application of TJ6 and PMB increased (10.8 %) wheat grain dry weight and reduced (72.1 %) grain Cd concentration compared to the control. This reduction was primarily attributed to the conversion of bioavailable Cd in the rhizosphere soil into organically-bound and residual Cd fractions. Increaseing soil pH, electrical conductivity, NH₄⁺ content, NH₄⁺/NO₃⁻ ratio, and urease activity promoted the immobilization of Cd onto soil particles, consequently decreasing the concentration of bioavailable Cd. Furthermore, the TJ6+PMB amendment facilitated the formation of insoluble Cd precipitates, such as Cd₃(PO₄)₂, CdCO₃, and (Cd,Ca)₅(PO₄)₃OH, within the rhizosphere soil. Compared to the fungal community, the bacterial community in the rhizosphere exhibited greater sensitivity to TJ6+PMB application. The relative abundances of key bacterial genera, including <em>Sphingomonas, Bacillus, Gemmatimonas,</em> and <em>Nocardioides,</em> were significantly enhanced. These genera play crucial roles in heavy metal immobilization, plant growth promotion, and nitrogen cycling. In conclusion, the application of strain TJ6 and PMB effectively reduced Cd bioavailability and uptake by wheat through the regulation of rhizosphere soil physicochemical properties and microbial community structure. These findings provide a practical approach for the remediation and safe production of wheat in Cd-contaminated fields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101249"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wisteria sinensis and Lonicera japonica exhibit distinct cadmium tolerance mechanisms and potential for ecological restoration of cadmium-contaminated soils","authors":"Wenxi Guan ,&nbsp;Zhengze Chen ,&nbsp;Jiarui Wang ,&nbsp;Yanan Liu ,&nbsp;Dazhuang Huang ,&nbsp;Xiaoyun Niu","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101277","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101277","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phytoremediation is an eco-friendly and cost-effective method for remediating soils contaminated by heavy metals. However, research on the tolerance of woody lianas to cadmium (Cd) remains relatively limited. Therefore, this study selected six woody lianas—<em>Wisteria sinensis</em>, <em>Parthenocissus tricuspidata</em>, <em>Campsis grandiflora</em>, <em>Periploca sepium</em>, <em>Lonicera japonica</em>, and <em>Ampelopsis humulifolia</em>—and conducted pot experiments with Cd concentrations (0.78, 11.51, and 28.51 mg kg⁻¹) to evaluate their physiological responses and tolerance to Cd stress. Results revealed significant variations in Cd stress tolerance among the species. Functional analysis indicated that <em>W. sinensis</em> displayed the highest overall resistance under elevated concentrations of Cd stress. The underlying mechanisms include: (1) sequestering 40 %∼60 % of Cd²⁺ in the cell wall; (2) the antioxidant enzyme system is markedly activated, with the activities of POD, CAT, and SOD increasing by 125.00 %, 325.00 %, and 57.79 %, respectively, to mitigate oxidative damage; (3) maintaining stable photosynthesis alongside a sharp increase in root nitrogen. Conversely, <em>L. japonica</em> adapted well to low Cd stress by enhancing soluble sugar content and shoot transport. Nonetheless, the accumulation coefficients of all the tested plants are relatively low. Specifically, for <em>W. sinensis</em>, these coefficients are 0.64 and 0.44 under low and high Cd treatments, respectively, indicating a considerable distance from hyperaccumulator status. In conclusion, while lacking strong accumulation, these lianas display distinct physiological adaptability. Their climbing growth and ornamental value make them suitable for ecological restoration and vertical greening in Cd-contaminated areas such as mines and urban outskirts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101277"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mycorrhizal consortium: an option to modulate leaf lectin biosynthesis","authors":"Caio Bezerra Barreto ,&nbsp;Francisco Chagas Barbalho Neto ,&nbsp;Carmelo José Albanez Bastos-Filho ,&nbsp;Qiang-Sheng Wu ,&nbsp;Michele Dalvina Correia da Silva ,&nbsp;Fábio Sérgio Barbosa da Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101242","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101242","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can modulate the production of both primary and secondary metabolites in plants. Although the importance of root lectins in establishing symbiosis is well recognized, nevertheless, it is not known whether mycorrhizal inoculation can modulate the accumulation of leaf lectins. This study aimed to verify whether the inoculation of a mycorrhizal consortium alters the lectins profile in leaves. A greenhouse experiment with two inoculation treatments was carried out: non-inoculated <em>Schinus terebinthifolia</em> Raddi seedlings (control) and seedlings inoculated with an AMF consortium containing <em>Acaulospora longula</em>, <em>Entrophospora etunicata,</em> and <em>Dentiscutata heterogama</em> (AMF+). The leaves were harvested after 191 days and used to prepare aqueous extracts. The extracts were assayed regarding the hemagglutinating activity, for detecting lectins, and the specific hemagglutinating activity (SHA) was determined for ABO group erythrocytes. The concentration of bioatives and the <em>in vitro</em> antioxidant activity were evaluated. The SHA of leaves from mycorrhizal <em>S</em>. <em>terebinthifolia</em> seedlings, evaluated using group A erythrocytes, was enhanced by over 30%, in comparison with non-inoculated plants (<em>p≤ </em>0.01). However, inoculation of AMF reduced the production of metabolites, the antioxidant activity, and SHA when erythrocytes from groups AB, B, or O were considered (<em>p≤ </em>0.01). This research provides the first evidence of mycorrhizal symbiosis affecting leaf lectin accumulation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101242"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145749554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rhizobacteria of native aquatic macrophytes in coal mining subsidence ponds are shaped by compartment niche differentiation","authors":"Ting Gao ,&nbsp;Songbao Feng ,&nbsp;Sanping Yu ,&nbsp;Xianyang Shi ,&nbsp;Jin Cheng","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101235","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101235","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aquatic macrophytes have evolved adaptive mechanisms to thrive in the heterogeneous environments of coal mining subsidence areas. While such mechanisms provide practical solutions for ecological restoration in mining areas, general principles driving community assembly and the potential functions of bacterial microbiotas associated with these plants remain poorly characterized. In this study, we employed Illumina-based sequencing approaches to systematically characterize the bacterial microbiota in two root-associated compartments (rhizosphere and root endosphere) of four dominant macrophyte species (common reed, narrow-leaf cattail, short-lived flatsedge, and tuber bulrush) colonizing contrasting substrates (sediment and coal gangue). Our analyses revealed that the characteristics of root-associated bacterial communities were determined primarily by root compartment rather than by macrophyte species or plant habitat. Rhizospheric and root endophytic communities differed significantly in composition, network complexity, and keystone species, confirming a compartmentalized niche-assembly pattern. Functional predictions demonstrated metabolic niche partitioning between compartments, with distinct biogeochemical pathways enriched in each microenvironment. Specifically, rhizosphere communities were enriched in anaerobic respiration, nitrogen cycling, lignin degradation, and anoxygenic photosynthesis; meanwhile, endospheric microbiota were enriched in dark hydrogen oxidation, ureolysis, methylotrophy, and fumarate respiration. This study sheds new light on the assembly and functional roles of root-associated bacterial communities in coal mining subsidence ponds, supporting future ecological restoration efforts by identifying key functional bacteria.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101235"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145749558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Root-microbiome signaling networks under climate stress: Mechanistic insights and rhizosphere engineering opportunities","authors":"Sipra Mohapatra ,&nbsp;Vishal Johar ,&nbsp;Hina Upadhyay ,&nbsp;Anand Kumar ,&nbsp;Premdeep ,&nbsp;Prayasi Nayak ,&nbsp;Mouli Paul ,&nbsp;Swagatika Babu ,&nbsp;Rahul Pradhan ,&nbsp;Pragnyashree Mishra ,&nbsp;Himanshu Saini","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101271","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101271","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change is reshaping the structure and function of rhizosphere microbiomes, with profound implications for plant health, nutrient acquisition, and stress tolerance. Emerging evidence reveals that root-microbiome interactions are governed by intricate signaling networks involving root exudates, microbial metabolites, hormonal crosstalk, and redox-mediated pathways. These signals dynamically modulate microbial recruitment, functional assembly, and stress-induced shifts in community stability. This review synthesizes cutting-edge mechanistic insights into how climate stressors including drought, heat, salinity, and elevated CO₂ alter biochemical communication between roots and microbes. We highlight advances in multi-omics, isotope tracing, spatial metabolomics, and high-resolution imaging that are transforming our understanding of rhizosphere signaling landscapes. Finally, we evaluate emerging strategies for rhizosphere engineering, including microbiome-informed breeding, targeted exudate modulation, synthetic communities, and real-time microbiome monitoring tools. By integrating mechanistic and applied perspectives, this review outlines a roadmap for leveraging root-microbiome signaling networks to build climate-resilient, low-input agricultural systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101271"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in rhizospheric bacterial communities of the Andean shrub Fabiana densa in response to salinity","authors":"Cinthia Copeticona-Callejas,&nbsp;Isabel Morales-Belpaire","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101244","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101244","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The expansion of quinoa cultivation areas in the Bolivian Altiplano has diminished the populations of native plants which play key ecological roles in the harsh environments of the high Andes. The shrub <em>Fabiana densa</em> not only thrives under extreme climatic conditions and nutrient-poor soils, but also shows tolerance to salinity. Among these species, the shrub <em>Fabiana densa</em> not only thrives under extreme climatic conditions and nutrient-poor soils, but it also shows tolerance to salinity. Understanding the adaptation mechanisms of <em>F. densa</em> to salinity could help revegetate salt-affected areas. Rhizobacteria, among other factors, may contribute to salinity tolerance of <em>F. densa</em>. Therefore, we aimed to assess how salinity affects the rhizospheric bacterial communities of <em>F. densa</em>, as a first step toward identifying bacterial families potentially involved in saline stress alleviation. We irrigated <em>F. densa</em> plants with 0, 15, 25, and 40 mM NaCl solutions under controlled conditions. After ten and twenty weeks of exposure to the salinity treatments, DNA was extracted from rhizospheric soil. The bacterial communities were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Both salinity level and exposure time had a strong effect on the composition of the rhizospheric bacterial communities. After 10 weeks of exposure, differential abundances of Cyclobacteriaceae and Shewanellaceae were positively related to salinity. After 20 weeks of exposure, salinity caused a decrease in the differential abundances of Aeromonaceae and Rhodocyclaceae but an increase for Rhizobiaceae. The changes in community composition with time of sampling suggest that besides exposure to salinity, other environmental factors influenced bacterial communities and should be taken into account in further studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101244"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Shovelomics meets microbiomics: root phenotype-microbiome associations and links with maize yield under nitrogen limitation","authors":"Elena Giuliano ,&nbsp;Jagdeep Singh Sidhu ,&nbsp;Ivan Lopez-Valdivia ,&nbsp;Rafaela Feola Conz ,&nbsp;Cody Depew ,&nbsp;Jonathan P. Lynch ,&nbsp;Johan Six ,&nbsp;Martin Hartmann ,&nbsp;Tania Galindo-Castañeda","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101241","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101241","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Improving crop nitrogen (N) uptake is essential for a more sustainable agriculture. Deploying resource-efficient root phenotypes, beneficial soil microbiomes and their interplay is a promising approach. To test the hypothesis that adaptive root phenotypes under N limitation associate to specific microbial taxa, we characterized 11 architectural and 13 anatomical root phenotypes, and associated rhizosphere prokaryotic and fungal communities across 16 field-grown maize (<em>Zea mays</em> L.) inbred lines under optimal and low N availability. While maize genotypes were not significant to the rhizosphere microbial diversity, the number of crown roots significantly affected fungal β-diversity under N limitation. Moreover, the relative abundance of 98 rhizosphere microbial taxa significantly correlated with individual root architectural or anatomical phenotypes in a N- and plant yield-specific way. Interestingly, a greater number of correlations was found under optimal than under low N availability. Our results suggest the importance of investigating root phenotypes as predictors of rhizosphere microbial communities in maize inbred lines. Moreover, maize root architecture and anatomy may associate with microbes more frequently under optimal than under suboptimal N conditions. The relative contribution of root phenotypes and specific microbial taxa to plant performance under N limitation deserves more attention in future research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101241"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}