Shotgun metagenomic sequencing of marigold rhizosphere inoculated with phosphate-solubilizing bacteria

We investigated the effects of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) on the rhizosphere microbiome of French marigold (Tagetes patula) grown in a peat-based substrate at pH 6.5. Following transplant, insoluble calcium phosphate served as the sole phosphorus source. Five bacterial strains (Pantoea sp. strain C2G6, Enterobacter soli strain C4A1, Pantoea trifolii strain C2B11, Pantoea formicae strain C8D10, and Bacillus velezensis) were applied as weekly substrate drenches. Rhizosphere samples were collected to assess the impact of PSB inoculation on microbial community composition and functional potential using shotgun metagenomic sequencing.