Adding plant metabolites improve plant phosphorus uptake by altering the rhizosphere bacterial community structure

Background and aims Plant-derived metabolites play a crucial role in mediating plant–microbe interactions affecting plant development, health and ability to withstand biotic and abiotic stresses. However, how the key plant metabolites, e.g., flavonoids and fatty acids secreted by roots, regulate soil microbial communities to promote plant phosphorus (P) nutrition, growth and development remains unclear. Methods We determined whether the addition of different concentrations (0, 50 or 500 μmol kg −1 ) of myristic acid (fatty acid), quercetin, naringenin or luteolin (flavonoids) to the soil to improved soil organic P utilization efficiency and enhanced plant growth by changing microbial community. Results Flavonoids could directly regulate rhizosphere bacterial community structure, with a significant increase in the relative abundance of Micrococcaceae and Nocardioidaceae by the addition of 50 μmol kg −1 of naringenin, luteolin, 500 μmol kg −1 of quercetin, naringenin or luteolin. The addition of myristic acid had weaker impact on bacterial community structure. The altered bacterial community structure lead to the increased alkaline phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere to promote the mineralization of organic P, which could facilitate plant growth and P uptake to different extents. Conclusion Our results indicate that the addition of flavonoids enhanced organic P mineralization by selecting individuals which secreted more phosphatases. These findings can provide guidance for effective manipulation of composition of plant-microbial communities to increase plant P nutrition and/or efficiency of use of P fertilizers.