Leaf raw sequence reads from Pear-soybean interplanting model. Pyrus communis

Rhizosphere microorganisms can influence plant growth and development by promoting nutrient availability, enhancing nutrient uptake, modulating hormone levels, stimulating root growth, and improving stress tolerance. However, the impact of rhizosphere microbiota on pear rootstock has not been thoroughly studied. In this study, we discovered that soybean-rhizobium-pear interplant model enable the increase of chlorophyll content of the leaves in pear rootstock. Microbiome sequencing of rhizosphere soil showed that rhizobia-legume symbiosis has affected the abundance of rhizosphere bacteria and fungi, as well as diversity and structure of rhizosphere microorganisms. Through RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analyses, we identified key genes in pear leaves that respond to changes in rhizosphere microorganisms, including encoding genes of cytochrome P450, pathogenesis-related protein, and gibberellin regulated protein. Among them, gibberellin regulated protein could modulate the timing of flowering of pear by responding to the change of rhizosphere microbial communities, and cytochrome P450 could modulate the chlorophyll synthesis. These results will provide novel insights into the growth and development of pear rootstock affected by rhizosphere microbiota, and potential functional genes related to photosynthesis and flowering time. Also, the application of microbial inocula will help relieve the effects of climate warming and extreme environments on plants, thereby increasing yield potential.