PGPR Promotes the Recovery of Submerged Macrophytes via Indigenous Microbiome Modulations under Combined Abiotic Stress

Abstract

The restoration of submerged macrophytes is commonly limited by abiotic stress. Here, we isolated PGPR strains from the rhizosphere of submerged macrophytes using ACC deaminase selective medium, and evaluated their growth promoting effects on Vallisneria natans (V. natans) under low light intensity and (or) high sediment organic matter load, and also explored the indigenous microbiome response of V. natans seedlings to PGPR inoculants. Ten isolates were chosen from the 252 isolated strains based on the ACC deaminase activity and the production of IAA and siderophore. M1 (Pseudomonas vancouverensis) and E15 (Enterobacter ludwigii) had the best growth promoting effects under low light stress and under double stress of low light and high sediment organic matter load, and the shoot height increased by 36% and 46%, respectively. The results of indigenous microbiome analysis showed that PGPR inoculants could regulate the relative abundance of unclassified_f_Enterobacteriaceae and improve the α-diversity of the rhizosphere bacterial community. Under high sediment organic matter load, inoculation of PGPR obviously shifted the β-diversity of rhizosphere bacterial communities to promote the early growth of V. natans. This study expands the application of plant–microbe interaction in the field of freshwater ecological restoration.