The ability to recognize and respond to environmental signals is essential for plants. In response to environmental changes, the status of a plant is transmitted to other plants in the form of signals such as volatiles. Root-associated bacteria trigger the release of plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, the impact of VOCs on the rhizosphere microbial community of neighbouring plants is not well understood. Here, we investigated the effect of VOCs on the rhizosphere microbial community of tomato plants inoculated with a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain GB03 and that of their neighbouring plants. Interestingly, high similarity (up to 69%) was detected in the rhizosphere microbial communities of the inoculated and neighbouring plants. Leaves of the tomato plant treated with strain GB03-released β-caryophyllene as a signature VOC, which elicited the release of a large amount of salicylic acid (SA) in the root exudates of a neighbouring tomato seedling. The exposure of tomato leaves to β-caryophyllene resulted in the secretion of SA from the root. Our results demonstrate for the first time that the composition of the rhizosphere microbiota in surrounding plants is synchronized through aerial signals from plants.

识别和响应环境信号的能力对植物至关重要。响应于环境变化，植物的状态以信号（例如挥发物）的形式传输到其他植物。根系相关细菌触发植物挥发性有机化合物（VOC）的释放。但是，VOCs对邻近植物根际微生物群落的影响尚不十分清楚。在这里，我们调查了挥发性有机化合物对番茄植株的根际微生物群落的影响，该植株接种了促进植物生长的根瘤杆菌解淀粉芽孢杆菌。菌株GB03及其附近植物的菌株。有趣的是，在接种和邻近植物的根际微生物群落中检测到高度相似性（最高69％）。用GB03菌株处理的番茄植株的叶子释放了β-石竹烯作为标志性VOC，这引发了邻近番茄幼苗根系分泌物中大量水杨酸（SA）的释放。番茄叶片暴露于β-叶绿素烯导致根部分泌SA。我们的结果首次证明了周围植物中根际微生物群的组成是通过植物的空中信号同步的。