Effects SynCom1 inoculation on the transcriptional profile of soybean plant

Synthetic Community 1 (SynCom1) was composed of 12 isolates with nitrogen fixation, Pi solubilizing and IAA production. Each isolate was cultured in their respective growth medium at 28 Celsius degree and shaken at 150 rpm/min to an OD600 of 1.5. SynCom1 inoculants were prepared through mixing of equal amounts of each re-suspended microbial strain. Sterilized seeds of soybean were germinated in the growth substrate. Three seeds were sown in each pot and 10 mL SynCom mixture was applied to each pot around the planted seed. Plants were irrigated with LNLP (low N: 530 uM; low P: 25 uM) nutrient solution. The newest mature trifoliate leaves were collected from three biological replicates of SynCom1 inoculated and control soybean plants after 4 weeks of cultivation in growth chambers. Three biological replicates were harvested and quickly immersed in liquid nitrogen prior to being subjected to total RNA extraction and then RNA-seq analysis.