中新网上海10月3日电(记者 郑莹莹)北京时间10月3日凌晨，中国科学院分子植物科学卓越创新中心周峰 研究团队，联合瑞士洛桑大学的科研人员在国际知名学术期刊《科学》(Science)上发表了一篇封面文 章。该研究首次精准揭晓植物根系引导微生物在其表面"安家"的奥秘，绘制出根系微生物的"定居地 图"。 中国科学院分子植物科学卓越创新中心周峰研究团队。(中国科学院分子植物科学卓越创新中心周峰研 究团队供图) 揭晓微生物"安家"奥秘 在采访中，中国科学院分子植物科学卓越创新中心研究员周峰把根系微生物称为一种生命活动的"暗物 质"。 "凯氏带屏障非常重要，它要打开一定的缺口，来'招募'一些共生菌，以促进植物生长。"周峰说。 大量微生物附着在根系上，帮助植物吸收营养和抵抗逆境。然而，由于土壤的"黑暗环境"，根系与微生 物之间如何互动很难被直接观测。 中瑞两国研究团队以植物幼苗根系为研究模型，发现微生物在根系表面的"定居"并非杂乱无章，而是呈 现有规律的空间分布。 通过凯氏带，植物得以稳定根系内部的营养物质，并防止其随意泄漏，以控制病原微生物的过量繁殖， 从而维持根际微生物群的健康平衡。 在应用意义方面，这项研究提示可以 ...

Core Insights - The research conducted by the team led by Zhou Feng at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the University of Lausanne, has revealed how plant roots guide microorganisms to settle on their surfaces, creating a "settlement map" of root-associated microbes [1] Group 1: Research Findings - The study utilized plant seedling root systems as a model, employing fluorescently labeled live microorganisms and high-resolution imaging techniques to demonstrate that microbial settlement is not random but follows a systematic spatial distribution [6] - The integrity of a specific barrier within the root, known as the Casparian strip, is crucial for maintaining the health balance of root-associated microbial communities [6] - When the Casparian strip has "gaps," it leads to nutrient leakage from the root, with larger gaps resulting in increased microbial colonization [6] Group 2: Microbial Behavior - Microorganisms exhibit a strong chemotactic response to beneficial nutrients, particularly amino acids, with glutamine being the most abundant leaked component [8] - The emergence of lateral roots can create gaps in the Casparian strip, causing localized glutamine leakage that acts as a signal to attract microorganisms [8] - The research highlights that if microorganisms lose their ability to sense amino acids, they will struggle to locate their "settlement points," emphasizing the importance of chemical signaling in microbial distribution [8] Group 3: Implications for Agriculture - This study provides new insights into the precise mechanisms by which plants regulate the spatial distribution of microorganisms, offering innovative approaches for sustainable agricultural development [8] - Future applications may include designing amino acid-based microbial fertilizers to precisely guide beneficial microbial colonization, enhancing nutrient absorption efficiency and resilience in crops [8]