Rhizosphere arginine accumulation recruits Pseudomonas for maize salt tolerance via a lignin pathway modulated by a NAC-family gene.

作者：Yaguang Zhao, Xinhao Wen · 发表于：Microbiology Research · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1016/j.micres.2026.128645 · 研究领域：Medicine

Soil salinization severely threatens global food security by reducing agricultural productivity. While root-associated microbiota are known to enhance plant adaptation to environmental stress, the metabolic and molecular mechanisms governing maize-microbe interactions under salt stress remain largely unclear. In this study, we integrated microbiome and metabolome profiling of field-grown maize and demonstrated that salt stress induces arginine accumulation, which in turn enriches Pseudomonas in both the rhizosphere and root compartments. Subsequent greenhouse experiments combined with transcriptomic analysis suggested that Pseudomonas modulates a NAC-family gene, thereby contributing to lignin biosynthesis and root cell wall thickening. This structural reinforcement reduces root Na⁺ influx and ultimately alleviates salt stress in maize. Collectively, our findings establish a mechanistic framework for understanding plant-microbiome crosstalk and highlight promising strategies for engineering microbiomes to enhance crop resilience in saline environments.