PLANT RHIZOSPHERE AND TISSUES Raw sequence reads

P. beijingensis BJ-18 application significantly increased soil pH, total N, available P, organic matter, nitrogenase activity and maize biomass, N content, phosphorus content under N-deficient soil. In the different niche, significantly higher bacterial 16S rRNA and diazotrophic nifH gene abundances were observed in P. beijingensis BJ-18 inoculation treatments under N-deficient soil, while lower fungal ITS gene abundance was detected. P. beijingensis BJ-18 application altered microbial community composition in the different niche of maize. After P. beijingensis BJ-18 application, Paenibacillus was not enriched in the rhizosphere and endosphere bacterial communities, while it became one of dominant genus in endophytic diazotrophic community. Under low N, P. beijingensis BJ-18 inoculation significantly increased the abundances of indigenous bacterial groups owning potential promoting plant growth mechanism, such as Pseudomonas, Lysobacter and Bacillus, and decreased pathogenic fungi including Fusarium and Gibberella. With increase of N level, however, above effects gradually weaken, suggesting that N-deficient soil was advantageous in promoting the function displaying of diazotroph.