The core phoD-harboring bacteria promote wheat phosphorus uptake by enhancing alkaline phosphatase activity under long-term fertilization

Fertilization treatments profoundly influence the bacterial communities associated with soil organic phosphorus (P) mineralization and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. However, the relationships among the phoD-harboring bacterial communities associated with soil organic P mineralization, soil ALP activity, and plant P uptake under long-term fertilization remain unexplored. This study investigated these associations at the wheat rapid growth stage in a 40-year fertilization experiment. NPK fertilization led to a significant decrease in the diversity of phoD-harboring bacteria, which could be partially mitigated by the addition of organic materials. Soil pH emerged as the key factor influencing the structure and diversity of the phoD-harboring bacterial community. Furthermore, fertilizations involving manure additions resulted in more stable and cooperative phoD-harboring bacterial co-occurrence networks, compared to NPK fertilization. A functional phoD-harboring bacterial cluster, comprising genera Nostoc, Bradyrhizobium, and Pseudomonas, was identified, showing a positive association with soil ALP activity and plant P uptake. In summary, our study highlights the significant role of the identified core cluster of phoD-harboring bacteria in maintaining soil ALP activity and promoting plant P uptake, in decades of fertilization. Moreover, this study inferred a list of phoD-harboring bacterial genera from the core cluster, with established links to both plant P uptake and soil organic P mineralization. These findings offer valuable insights for sustainable agricultural practices.