P-338 - Optimized gnotobiotic bag platform expands plant-microbiome interaction research and agricultural applications

Plants and their microbial communities form a symbiotic system, where microbiota plays a key role in plant growth, development and stress resilence. Studies have confirmed the significant contribution of microbiota to plant immunity against pathogens. For example, the first author reported that rice black streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) infection alters the rice rhizosphere bacterial community. Rice grown in natural soil showed stronger resistance to RBSDV than in sterilized soil, indicating a positive role of soil microbiota in enhancing rice resistance to RBSDV. However, a limitation of this study was the inability to establish consistently sterile growth conditions. To advance research on plant-microbiome interactions, we developed the “Gnbotobag” system based on a previously peat-based gnotobiotic system. Key improvements of this Gnotobag include enhanced ventilation and a mechanism for supplementing nutrients and water significantly extend the plant growth cycle. These modifications prolonged Arabidopsis growth from 4 to 8 weeks, enabling seed harvest. Additionally, the expanded headspace of the Gnotobag allows for the growth of crops such as rice and tomato for at least 4 weeks. In conclusion, the development of the Gnotobag has made it possible to study the effects of microbes on long-term plant phenotypes, such as flowering, senescence, and transgenerational epigenetics. The increased headspace and the ability to add nutrients and water support research on larger crop plants, laying a foundation for future studies of microbiome functions in agricultural production.