Researchers of the Southern Characteristic Crop Genetics and Breeding Innovation Team from the Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IBFC, CAAS) analyzed the diversity and application characters of endophytes in ramie firstly. And it was found that endophyte Pseudomonas sp. B4 was able to significantly increase the plant height, stem thickness and fiber yield of ramie in field condition.

Ramie is a unique fiber crop in China with its bast fibers being used in textiles for nearly 5,000 years. In addition to its fiber application, ramie is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, animal feed, and ecological restoration. To fully exploit this biological resource, 180 samples were collected from the rhizosphere, roots, stems, and leaves of the three varieties in three locations to investigate the endophyte structure and community composition of ramie. Researchers discovered that the diversity of endophytes in ramie decreased progressively from the belowground niches to the aboveground niches along the rhizosphere-root-stem-leaf. Notably, the endophyte diversity was similar between stem and leaf. Functional prediction analysis revealed that different functional bacteria were enriched in diverse microhabitats.

Through screening ramie endophytes, a strain of endophytic Pseudomonas (B4) was identified. B4 could produce auxin, synthesize siderophores, and degrade both organic and inorganic phosphorus. Field experiments demonstrated that B4 could increase plant height (19.92%), stem diameter (10.39%), and fiber yield (21.67%) remarkably. Therefore, this bacterial strain holds great potential for further development and application in ramie production.

Fig. 1. α-diversity of ramie-associated microbiomes

This study was supported by Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program (ASTIP-IBFC), China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA (CARS-16-E12), and the Science and Technology Innovation Program of Hunan Province (2024JJ5397).

The study entitled "Insight into the diversity and application characters of endophytes in ramie ( Boehmeria nivea L. Gaud)" has been published online in Industrial Crops & Products. And it can be accessed through the following link：

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669025006624.

Fig. 2. B4 promoted ramie growth

By Zhu Siyuan

(zhusiyuan@caas.cn)