Response of rhizosphere microbial community to low-temperature and high-moisture stress and enhancement of maize stress resistance by synthetic microbial community

Under combined stress of low temperature and high moisture, the germination rate of maize seeds significantly decreased, and seedling growth was markedly inhibited. Compared to quartz sand and sterilized soil, natural soil demonstrated a more pronounced effect in alleviating the inhibitory impact of stress on seed germination and seedling growth. Stress treatment promoted an increase in the relative abundance of taxa such as Pseudomonas, Paenibacillus, and Bacillus, while simultaneously reducing the diversity of the rhizosphere microbial community. Across all treatments, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, and Rhizobium consistently persisted as core microbial populations. Further validation through isolation and incubation confirmed that these strains possess plant growth-promoting functions. The six-strain consortium constructed on this basis significantly promoted maize plant growth under stress conditions.