High-throughput sequencing-based analysis of the composition and diversity of endophytic bacterial community in seeds of saline-alkali tolerant rice

The study of endophytic bacteria in saline-alkali tolerant rice seeds is of great help to the follow-up study of saline-alkali tolerant mechanism and the exploitation of saline-alkali tolerant microbial resources. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology based on the Illumina Miseq platform was used to reveal the core microbiota by examining the diversity and community structures of seed endophytic bacteria in saline-alkali tolerant rice grown under different salt concentrations and explore the effect of salt concentration on its endophytic bacteria. Here, 49 endophytic OTUs were found to coexist in all samples. At the phylum level, the dominant phyla were Proteobacteria (83.90 %-99.87 %). At the genus level, Pantoea (44.65-94.76 %) which represents the core microbiota in saline-alkali tolerant rice seeds, served as the dominant genus that coexisted in all samples tested. Through further analysis, we found that the abundance of Pantoea in saline-alkali tolerant rice seeds was positively proportional to the level of salt concentration. Overall, this study showed that the core microbiota of saline-alkali tolerant rice seeds is Pantoea, and the change of salt concentration is a key factor in the formation of endophytic bacteria in saline-alkali tolerant rice seeds.

Automated summary

The study revealed that Pantoea is the core microbiota in saline-alkali tolerant rice seeds, and its abundance is positively correlated with salt concentration. The change in salt concentration is a key factor influencing the formation of endophytic bacteria in saline-alkali tolerant rice seeds.