Coinoculation with Bacillus mojavensis BA23 and Rhizobium indicum RH64 protected red kidney bean from root rot by activating plant-induced systemic resistance and modulating the interroot microbial community

Root rot is a major disease in red kidney bean cultivation, and pathogens can be controlled by introducing beneficial bacteria such as Bacillus and Rhizobium strains into the interroot soil. However, we still lack insight into the disease control effects and related mechanisms of the single and combined use of these two microbial groups, which hinders the development of plant disease suppression strategies. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of single or coinoculation with Bacillus mojavensis BA23 and Rhizobium indicum RH64 on the incidence and severity of red kidney bean root rot, plant growth and activation of plant-induced changes in systemic resistance. Changes in interroot microbial community diversity and composition were assessed, and symbiotic networks were constructed on the basis of high-throughput sequencing results.