Abstract
Modern agriculture faces an urgent need to improve nutrient use efficiency while reducing environmental impacts. Here, we show that ancestral traits controlling rhizosphere microbiome functions can be reintroduced into elite maize through targeted teosinte introgressions. Using near-isogenic lines, we mapped microbiome-associated phenotypes (MAPs) derived from teosinte that suppress nitrification and denitrification-key microbial processes contributing to nitrogen loss. These introgressions altered root exudate chemistry, resulting in distinct microbial assemblies and enhanced nitrogen retention. We identified candidate loci and exudate metabolites responsible for suppressive activity and demonstrated their functional effects in vitro. These findings reveal a genetic and biochemical basis for rewilding microbiome-mediated ecosystem services in crops, offering a scalable path toward sustainable nutrient management in global agriculture.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Teosinte-derived microbiome phenotypes suppress nitrification and denitrification.
Verbatim
e0“Using near-isogenic lines, we mapped microbiome-associated phenotypes (MAPs) derived from teosinte that suppress nitrification and denitrification”
Claim · model-written summary
Teosinte introgressions altered root exudate chemistry.
Not reportedTaxonComparatorDirection
Verbatim
e0“These introgressions altered root exudate chemistry”
Claim · model-written summary
Teosinte introgressions produced distinct microbial assemblies.
Not reportedTaxonComparatorDirection
Verbatim
e0“These introgressions altered root exudate chemistry, resulting in distinct microbial assemblies”
Claim · model-written summary
Teosinte introgressions enhanced nitrogen retention.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“These introgressions altered root exudate chemistry, resulting in distinct microbial assemblies and enhanced nitrogen retention”
Claim · model-written summary
The study identified candidate loci and exudate metabolites responsible for suppression.
- Outcome
- candidate loci and exudate metabolitese0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“We identified candidate loci and exudate metabolites responsible for suppressive activity”
Claim · model-written summary
Candidate loci and metabolites had functional effects in vitro.
- Outcome
- functional effectse0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“demonstrated their functional effects in vitro”