Microbial Changes in the Rhizosphere of Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) Mutant with a High Concentration of Crude Protein

Abstract

Recently, many studies involving plant-microorganism relationships in the rhizosphere of multitudinous important economic crops revealed a clear signature of the host plant in shaping its rhizosphere microbial composition and structure. The nutrient preference of host plant was suggested to be one important factor determining the structure and assembly of the rhizosphere microbiome, but the proof for this hypothesis is still not enough. In this study, soil microbiomes in the rhizosphere of two Paper mulberry varieties with different nitrogen absorption and utilization efficiency were investigated using a short term pot experiment in controlled greenhouse, and the physicochemical properties were also determined. The results showed that, compared to the control plants, the mutated Paper mulberry variety with high N demand reduced the microbial growth significantly and changed the bacterial and the fungal composition in the rhizosphere soils, and alkaline nitrogen was identified to be the most significant factor affecting soil microbial community. Moreover, the effects of excessive consumption of soil nutrient during Paper mulberry cultivation on the microbiome was revealed, and it could be employed in field water and fertilizer management of Paper mulberry planting. This study further confirmed that the soil nutrient status resulting from the plant nutrient preference drives the development of a plant-specific microbiome.