Work

Phosphorus Functional Genes Control Rice Yield via Microbial Biomass Phosphorus and Plant Phosphorus Uptake in a Rice–Oilseed Rape Rotation System Compared with a Rice–Wheat Rotation System

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Crop rotation and microbial driving force significantly influence soil phosphorus (P) bioavailability and crop yield. However, differences in underlying microbial mechanisms in rotations remain unclear. We examined rice yield, P uptake, soil and microbial P contents, enzyme activity, and P functional genes over six years (2016–2022) to elucidate microbial mechanisms driving rice yield in rice–wheat (RW) and rice–oilseed rape (RO) rotations. RO significantly increased rice yield and plant P uptake by 9.17% and 20.70%, respectively, compared to RW. Soil total (TP) and available (AP) P contents were significantly lower (4.83% and 18.31%, respectively) under RO than RW, whereas microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) and acid phosphatase activity (EP) were greater (39.40% and 128.45%, respectively). PICRUSt2 results revealed that RO increased phoA phoB (alkaline phosphatase), phnX (phosphonoacetaldehyde hydrolase [EC:3.11.1.1]), gcd (Quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase [EC:1.1.5.2]), and ppaC (manganese-dependent inorganic pyrophosphatase) and decreased phnD (phosphonate transport system substrate-binding protein), ugpE (sn-glycerol 3-phosphate transport system permease protein), ugpA (sn-glycerol 3-phosphate transport system permease protein), and phnO ((aminoalkyl)phosphonate N-acetyltransferase [EC:2.3.1.280]) abundance. Random forest analysis showed that ppaC, phnD, gcd, and phnX were important for rice yield and plant P uptake. Partial least squares analysis revealed that RO indirectly increased rice yield by influencing MBP and affecting plant P uptake through P functional genes. Overall, RO improves rice yield and P bioavailability by altering P functional genes (ppaC, phnD, gcd, and phnX), providing new perspectives on crop–microorganism interactions and resource use efficiency.

Source: Agronomy

DOI: 10.3390/agronomy15040866