The Medicinal Plant Atractylodes Lancea Recruits Specialized Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria From The Soil

Abstract Purpose: Atractylodes lancea is a medicinal plant used to treat rheumatic diseases, digestive disorders, night blindness, and influenza. However, the microbiome associated with A. lancea remains unclear. In this study, we assess the role of microorganisms in the roots of A. lancea in regulating plant growth and secondary metabolites, and investigate the microbial composition of the root of A. lancea.Methods: The roots of A. lancea were inoculated with 10% soil suspension at different temperatures. Thereafter, the biological indices, major volatile oils, chemical properties of the rhizosphere soil, and the diversity of root endophytic and rhizosphere bacterial communities of A. lancea were assessed.Results: Soil microorganisms could attenuate the damage of high-temperature to A. lancea and significantly promote the growth and accumulation of volatile oil. A. lancea recruited endogenous plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPBs) from soil, including Burkholderia-Caballeronia-paraburkholderia, Bradyrhizobium, Paenibacillus, Bacillus and Rhodococcus. These bacteria were positively correlated with four volatile oils. In the rhizosphere, PGPBs such as Novosphingobium are recruited.Conclusions: Soil microorganisms promote the growth and development of A. lancea, improve the plant’s ability to resist high temperature stress, and accelerate secondary metabolite accumulation. Most importantly, A. lancea could recruit and enrich specialized PGPBs from the soil. The PGPBs were significantly and positively correlated with A. lancea secondary metabolite and soil nutrient content, and can be used as ideal biological material in A. lancea cultivation and quality improvement.