The effect of phosphorus content on wheat root-associated prokaryotic community depends on growth stage and variety

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) root-associated microbes play an indispensable role in helping plants obtain phosphorus (P) from soil. However, the relationships among soil P content, wheat root-associated microorganisms, and plants are still not fully understood. Therefore, revealing the effects of soil P content on the root-associated microbes in different crop varieties at different growth stages is important for plant nutrient management. In this study, the variations of prokaryotic communities were investigated in the endosphere and rhizosphere of three wheat varieties growing in soils with different P content and at different growth stages. The key findings indicated that compartment niche and growth stage were the primary factors to shape wheat root-associated prokaryotic community assembly under different soil P contents. Soil P content mainly affected the prokaryotic community in rhizosphere rather than in endosphere. The effects of soil P content on root-associated prokaryotic communities in different wheat varieties were different and varied with the growth stage. Under low P treatment, there was greater variation in prokaryotic communities among varieties. In addition, compared with that in P-deficient soil, wheat rhizosphere enriched more taxa and functions related to plant growth in the P-sufficient soil. P-efficient variety (ZGC) enriched more genera that were positively related to plant growth in P-sufficient soil. This study comprehensively revealed the influences of soil P content on wheat root-associated prokaryotic communities, and the relationships among soil P content, wheat root-associated prokaryotic community, and plant. The effect of phosphorus (P) content on wheat root-associated prokaryotic community depends on the growth stage and variety.Low P stress exacerbates community variation among varieties.P addition promotes the formation of mutually beneficial relationships between microorganisms and plants.P-efficient variety enriches more potential beneficial genera in P-sufficient soil.