The Volatile Pentadecane From Bacillus Alleviates Plant Iron Deficiency Through Activating the Reduction-Based Fe Uptake System

Abstract

Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth and development. Rhizosphere microorganisms play crucial roles in plant Fe nutrition, yet the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we assessed the effect of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by Bacillus velezensis SQR9 on Fe uptake in Arabidopsis, elucidated the underlying mechanism using genetic and biochemical approaches, and identified the active components of SQR9 VOCs. Our results showed that plants exhibited enhanced Fe uptake, chlorophyll content, fresh weight, and root development when exposed to SQR9 VOCs under Fe-limited conditions. The reduction-based Fe uptake genes in Arabidopsis, encompassing the Fe-deficiency-induced transcription factor FIT, the ferric-chelate reductase FRO2, and the ferrous Fe transporter IRT1, were significantly upregulated by SQR9 VOCs. The deletion of these genes diminished the enhancing effect of SQR9 VOCs on plant Fe uptake. Meanwhile, this enhancement was found to be dependent on the accumulation of nitric oxide (NO) in the roots. Among the 23 VOCs in SQR9, we identified pentadecane as a key active compound that mediates NO signalling and promotes plant Fe uptake under Fe-limited conditions. The effective working concentration range for gaseous pentadecane was determined to be approximately 128.3 to 513.2 ng L−1. In conclusion, our findings illuminate the mechanism by which SQR9 VOCs promote plant Fe uptake and highlight the application potential of SQR9 as a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) for Fe biofortification of crops.