Work

Mycorrhizal fungi–helper bacteria synergy improves rice chilling tolerance through coordinated physiological, transcriptomic and metabolomic reprogramming

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Low-temperature stress severely limits rice seedling establishment, threatening yield in high-latitude regions. Beneficial microbial symbioses can improve chilling tolerance, yet the mechanisms of arbuscular mycorrhizal–microbial addition (AMB) remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of AMB, composed of Rhizophagus intraradices , Agrobacterium rhizogenes , and Bacillus subtilis , on rice seedlings under chilling stress using integrated physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses, providing mechanistic insights relevant to plant stress biology and crop resilience. AMB successfully established root symbiosis and alleviated chilling-induced growth inhibition, increasing root and shoot length by 15–25% compared with non-inoculated plants. Physiological measurements showed lower malondialdehyde, higher antioxidant enzyme activities, osmoprotectant levels, ATP content, and photosynthetic performance in AMB plants. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that AMB redirected chilling responses from broad stress and defense related pathways toward structural maintenance, cell wall stabilization, and regulated cellular adjustment. Metabolomic profiling indicated enhanced accumulation of lipid- and membrane-associated metabolites and osmolytes. Integrated analyses demonstrated coordinated regulation of phenylpropanoid, α-linolenic acid, flavonoid, and proline biosynthesis, as well as abscisic acid signaling. These results suggest that AMB enhances rice chilling tolerance by stabilizing physiological homeostasis and modulating cold-responsive regulatory networks, providing a mechanistic framework for microbial strategies to improve rice resilience to low-temperature stress.

Source: Industrial Crops and Products

DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2026.123368