Host-specific rhizosphere microbes facilitate yield improvement in edible pea

Rhizosphere microbiota play a critical role in crop productivity, yet the mechanisms by which host genotype shapes microbiome assembly and contributes to yield formation remain poorly understood, particularly in legume crops. Previous studies have largely focused on community-level variation, while few have isolated and functionally validated specific beneficial microorganisms associated with high-yield traits. In this study, we investigated four pea (Pisum sativum L.) varieties with contrasting grain yields and systematically characterized their rhizosphere microbiomes under field conditions. Amplicon sequencing combined with differential abundance analysis revealed two bacterial strains, Agrobacterium salinitolerans S1 and Neobacillus drentensis S2, that were consistently enriched in the rhizosphere of high-yielding genotypes. Functional assays confirmed that both strains possess plant growth-promoting traits. Pot experiments further demonstrated that inoculation of these strains into the rhizosphere of low-yield pea plants significantly enhanced plant growth and grain yield. Together, these results provide direct evidence that host genotype mediates the selective recruitment of beneficial rhizosphere bacteria and establish a foundation for microbiome-assisted strategies to achieve precision yield improvement and sustainable legume production.