Endophytic Bacterial Communities in Wild Rice (Oryza eichingeri) and Their Effects on Cultivated Rice Growth

Abstract

Endophytic bacteria play crucial roles in plant pathogen protection and growth. Oryza eichingeri is a unique wild rice species rich with genetic resources. Studies have explored beneficial endophytic bacteria and investigated the synergistic interaction between microbes and wild rice. However, the endophytic bacterial community of Oryza eichingeri and their plant growth-promoting (PGP) abilities characteristics remain largely unknown. Here, endophytic bacteria in the root, stem, and leaf tissues of Oryza eichingeri were characterized using metagenomic Illumina 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Additionally, culturable endophytic bacteria were isolated. The metagenomic analysis showed that, compared to those in other tissue compartments, the endophytic bacterial community in the roots had a more complex structure and enhanced functions, and each compartment had its own specific endophytic bacterial biomarkers. A total of 94 endophytic bacteria were isolated from Oryza eichingeri, among which 80 strains possessed PGP traits including increasing phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, IAA production, and nitrogen fixation. These strains displayed good PGP effects on cultivated rice seedlings, promoting the formation of strong root systems, stimulating biomass accumulation, and increasing root length and plant height. These findings provide insights into the composition of the bacterial endosphere of Oryza eichingeri and potential applications of the dominant PGP bacteria in rice cultivation.