By Jamie Martin
Research from North Carolina State University has uncovered significant differences in how corn root microbes behave in natural plant environments compared to laboratory settings.
Scientists studied seven bacterial species commonly associated with corn roots to determine how their activity changes when growing directly on the plant. The research revealed extensive shifts in microbial functions once the bacteria interacted with corn roots.
Researchers found that thousands of proteins changed their activity when the microbes moved from laboratory conditions to the plant environment. These changes affected movement, nutrient use, and interactions with the host plant.
“Historically we’ve been reliant on in-vitro experiments and experiments in the lab, and they’re still very powerful,” said Anna Garrell, first author of a paper on the work and a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University. “But I think this is a good reminder that what you find in the lab is not necessarily what’s going to be happening in the real environment.”
While some bacteria increased their ability to move and spread along the roots, others became more attached and settled in place. The study showed that each microbial species responds uniquely to plant signals and conditions.
The microbes also demonstrated a wide range of behaviors, including activating secretion systems, improving nutrient availability, and utilizing different sugars supplied by the plant. These functions play important roles in root colonization and plant health.
“Comparing the microbe growing on the plant to outside of the plant, the most mind-blowing thing was that these microbes completely changed their programming,” said principal investigator Manuel Kleiner, an associate professor of plant and microbial biology at NC State. “It’s not just ten or so genes, it’s thousands that completely shift as soon as they start interacting with the plant.”
To conduct the research, scientists used a defined community of bacteria with known genomes and reliable colonization patterns. This allowed for accurate comparisons between laboratory-grown microbes and those growing corn roots.
The findings emphasize that laboratory experiments, while valuable, do not always capture the full complexity of microbial behavior in real-world agricultural environments.
Researchers say the work improves understanding of plant-microbe relationships and creates a foundation for future studies involving multiple microbial species. Such knowledge could contribute to the development of biological tools designed to support sustainable crop production.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-oticki
Categories: National