Functional Interaction between Bacillus velezensis D103 and Maize Reveals a Microbial Mechanism for Drought Stress Mitigation via Photosynthesis and Sugar Metabolism.
Zhang Y, Feng Z, Guo Y, An Y, Zhang Z
Crop Improvement
The corn in your grocery store—and the tortillas, cornbread, and animal feed it becomes—could stay productive through the droughts that are increasingly threatening harvests, thanks to a naturally occurring soil microbe that costs far less than chemical interventions.
Scientists found that a helpful soil bacterium can protect corn plants during drought by keeping their leaves photosynthesizing normally while also sending more sugars down to the roots. They then went a step further and figured out exactly which plant genes the bacterium is working through—some genes are absolutely critical to this protection, while others have natural backups that kick in if needed. This gives scientists a clear roadmap for breeding or treating crops to be more drought-resistant.
Key Findings
Inoculation with B. velezensis D103 improved photosynthetic performance and increased root carbohydrate accumulation in maize under drought stress.
Five genes (ZmPsbXL, ZmSWEET13b, ZmPLT5, ZmGALX, ZmFAB1D) were identified as non-compensable: silencing them completely eliminated the bacterium's drought-protective benefits.
Three other genes (ZmSWEET14, ZmRFS1, ZmBANGLUC) proved functionally redundant—when silenced, related backup genes activated and drought tolerance was maintained, revealing a resilient genetic network.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A soil bacterium called Bacillus velezensis D103 helps maize survive drought by keeping photosynthesis running and pushing sugars toward the roots. Researchers pinpointed the exact plant genes responsible, including which ones are essential versus which can be covered by backup genes.
Abstract Preview
Drought stress severely limits maize productivity. Although plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) including Bacillus velezensis, are known to enhance drought tolerance, the underlying molecul...
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Maize, also known as corn in North American English, is a tall stout grass that produces cereal grain. The leafy stalk of the plant gives rise to male inflorescences or tassels which produce pollen, and female inflorescences called ears. The ears yield grain, known as kernels or seeds. In modern ...