Microalgae-induced changes in the rhizosphere microbiome improve saline-alkali tolerance of Perilla frutescens
摘要
The utilization of microalgae for restoration saline-alkali soils is recognized as an environmentally friendly and sustainable biological approach. However, the mechanisms by which microalgae alleviate saline-alkali stress in perilla (Perilla frutescens) remain poorly understood. The screened and identified microalgae (Chlorella sp. SAM-1 and Leptolyngbya sp. SAM-2) were inoculated to perilla subjected saline-alkali stress. The effect of the combined microalgae on the germination rate, photosynthetic parameters, root parameters and antioxidant enzymes of perilla were investigated. Then, the physicochemical properties and microbial diversity of the rhizosphere soil of perilla were explored. Our results showed that combined microalgae SAM-1 and SAM-2 enhanced the germination rate, photosynthesis, root growth, and antioxidant enzymes of perilla under saline-alkali stress. This treatment also increased the rhizosphere soil nutrient content and promoted the absorption of soil nutrients by the perilla. Additionally, combined microalgae improved the α diversity index of the rhizosphere microbial community and augmented the abundance of dominant bacterial groups, including Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria and Basidiomycota, thereby further increasing the saline-alkali stress tolerance of perilla. Our finding demonstrated that the microalgal inoculation exerted a profound impact on soil physicochemical properties and soil microbial diversity, which notably improved the growth and nutrient uptake of perilla. The present study also deepens our understanding of the interactions among microalgae, plants and soils, providing new insights that will help development of microalgae biofertilizers capable of ameliorating the adverse effects of saline-alkali soils on agricultural production.