Enhanced transport of bacteria along root systems by protists can impact plant health

This study elucidates their role in the rhizosphere community and suggests a mechanism by which protists can be used to move bacteria along plant roots. We found that the co-inoculation of protists with nitrogen-fixing beneficial bacteria, Sinorhizobium meliloti, resulted in nodules farther down the roots when compared to plants inoculated with S. meliloti alone, and shoot weights similar to plants that received nitrogen fertilizer. These data illustrate the ability of protists to transport viable bacteria to uninhabited regions of the root system.PMID:38534145 | DOI:10.1128/aem.02011-23
Source: Applied and Environmental Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Source Type: research