Heterogeneity of the rice microbial community of the Chinese centuries‐old Honghe Hani rice terraces system

Abstract

Summary The Honghe Hani rice terraces system (HHRTS) is a traditional rice cultivation system where Hani people cultivate remarkably diverse rice varieties. Recent introductions of modern rice varieties to the HHRTS have significantly increased the severity of rice diseases within the terraces. Here, we determine the impacts of these recent introductions on the composition of the rice‐associated microbial communities. We confirm that the HHRTS contains a range of both traditional HHRTS landraces and introduced modern rice varieties and find differences between the microbial communities of these two groups. However, this introduction of modern rice varieties has not strongly impacted the overall diversity of the HHRTS rice microbial community. Furthermore, we find that the rice varieties (i.e. groups of closely related genotypes) have significantly structured the rice microbial community composition (accounting for 15%–22% of the variance) and that the core microbial community of HHRTS rice plants represents less than 3.3% of all the microbial taxa identified. Collectively, our study suggests a highly diverse HHRTS rice holobiont (host with its associated microbes) where the diversity of rice hosts mirrors the diversity of their microbial communities. Further studies will be needed to better determine how such changes might impact the sustainability of the HHRTS.

Nitrogen, manganese, iron, and carbon resource acquisition are potential functions of the wild rice Oryza rufipogon core rhizomicrobiome

“…Domestication has been shown to alter the diversity of microbes in the rhizosphere of crops such as corn [ 45 ], tomato [ 46 ], wheat [ 47 ], and rice [ 48 , 49 ]. Chang et al [ 50 ] compared the bacterial communities of wild and domesticated rice genotypes and found that Frankiaceae was enriched in the rhizosphere of cultivated Oryza sativa but absent from the rhizosphere of wild Oryza rufipogon .…”

Coupling ecological network analysis with high-throughput sequencing-based surveys: Lessons from the next-generation biomonitoring project

“…For example, in the Chinese traditional Hani rice terraces system, three distinct rice genetic clusters were categorized using a genotyping by sequencing approach, while two main groups were initially expected based on farmer nomenclature. In addition, two rice fields planted with a variety bearing the same name were genetically distinct (Alonso et al, 2019(Alonso et al, , 2020.…”

Regional Features and Spatial Distribution of Fifty-Eight Ethnic Groups in Southwest China

“…The long history of rice cultivation might contribute to the accumulation of rice varieties in Dai's distribution areas [33]. Regional rotation phenomenon of rice seed was common for Hani, as relatives and friends were used to exchange rice seeds, which would not only help to prevent the rice aging but also preserve the traditional rice germplasm resources [34]. Likewise, Lahu and Blang also had a long history of rice cropping, with religious traditions to conserve the rice varieties, which enriched their diversity of rice varieties to a certain extent [35,36].…”