<i>N</i> -Acetylglucosamine Promotes Tomato Plant Growth by Shaping the Community Structure and Metabolism of the Rhizosphere Microbiome
Jiuyun Sun, Shuhua Li, Chun‐Yang Fan, Kangjia Cui, Hongxiao Tan, Liping Qiao, Laifeng Lu
Abstract
While the benefits of using plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) to enhance crop production have been recognized and studied extensively under laboratory conditions, the success of their application in the field varies immensely. More fundamentally explicit processes of positive, plant-PGPRs interactions are needed. The utilization of organic amendments, such as chitin and its derivatives, is one of the most economical and practical options for improving soil and substrate quality as well as plant growth and resilience. In this study, we observed that the chitin monomer N-GlcNAc, a key microbial signaling molecule produced through interactions between chitin, soil microbes, and the plants, positively shaped the community structure and metabolism of the rhizosphere microbiome of tomatoes. Our findings also provide a new direction for enhancing the benefits and stability of PGPRs in the field.