Foliar Application of <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> Enhances Tea Quality and Plant Defense via Phyllosphere Microbiome Modulation
The plant microbiome plays a crucial role in the health of the tea plant, while <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> (Bt) is widely utilized as a biological pesticide in tea gardens, promoting sustainable agricultural practices. However, the effects of Bt spraying on tea quality and the structu...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/13/1386 |
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| author | Yulin Xiong He Liu Dongliang Li Wei Xie Zhong Wang Xiaohong Fang Jizhou Wang Wei Chen Xi Du Yanyan Li Chuanpeng Nie Chuanhua Yin Pumo Cai Yongcong Hong |
| author_facet | Yulin Xiong He Liu Dongliang Li Wei Xie Zhong Wang Xiaohong Fang Jizhou Wang Wei Chen Xi Du Yanyan Li Chuanpeng Nie Chuanhua Yin Pumo Cai Yongcong Hong |
| author_sort | Yulin Xiong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The plant microbiome plays a crucial role in the health of the tea plant, while <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> (Bt) is widely utilized as a biological pesticide in tea gardens, promoting sustainable agricultural practices. However, the effects of Bt spraying on tea quality and the structure and function of the phyllosphere microbiome remain unclear. This study evaluated the effects of Bt spraying on tea quality, microbiome composition, diversity, and potential functions using tea leaf quality measurements and high-throughput sequencing of the 16S/ITS rDNA genes. Results showed that spraying Bt1 significantly increased the contents of free amino acids (by 15.27%), flavonoids (by 18.00%), soluble sugars (by 62.55%), and key compounds such as epicatechin gallate (by 10.50%), gallocatechin gallate (by 122.52%), and epigallocatechin gallate (by 61.29%), leading to improved leaf quality. Co-occurrence network analysis indicated that the community structure of both epiphytic and endophytic microbes became more complex after Bt treatment. The abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as <i>Novosphingobium</i>, <i>Methylobacterium</i>, and <i>Sphingomonas</i>, increased significantly, while pathogenic fungi like <i>Aspergillus</i> and <i>Phyllosticta</i> decreased. Functional prediction indicated enhanced amino acid metabolism, secondary metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism, particularly the biosynthesis of flavonoids, which supports disease resistance and boosts secondary metabolite levels. Furthermore, Bt application reduced pathogenic fungi, enhancing the tea plant’s resistance to diseases. Overall, foliar spraying of Bt can positively alter the phyllosphere microbiome by enriching beneficial bacteria and improving metabolic functions, ultimately enhancing tea plant resistance and quality, and providing a scientific basis for sustainable pest management in tea cultivation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-97ba954bfdbd4c3ab1b9aceaf64764bf |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-97ba954bfdbd4c3ab1b9aceaf64764bf2025-08-20T03:17:52ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-06-011513138610.3390/agriculture15131386Foliar Application of <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> Enhances Tea Quality and Plant Defense via Phyllosphere Microbiome ModulationYulin Xiong0He Liu1Dongliang Li2Wei Xie3Zhong Wang4Xiaohong Fang5Jizhou Wang6Wei Chen7Xi Du8Yanyan Li9Chuanpeng Nie10Chuanhua Yin11Pumo Cai12Yongcong Hong13College of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan 354300, ChinaCollege of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan 354300, ChinaCollege of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan 354300, ChinaCollege of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan 354300, ChinaCollege of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan 354300, ChinaCollege of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan 354300, ChinaCollege of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan 354300, ChinaCollege of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan 354300, ChinaCollege of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan 354300, ChinaCollege of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan 354300, ChinaCollege of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan 354300, ChinaCollege of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan 354300, ChinaCollege of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan 354300, ChinaCollege of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan 354300, ChinaThe plant microbiome plays a crucial role in the health of the tea plant, while <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> (Bt) is widely utilized as a biological pesticide in tea gardens, promoting sustainable agricultural practices. However, the effects of Bt spraying on tea quality and the structure and function of the phyllosphere microbiome remain unclear. This study evaluated the effects of Bt spraying on tea quality, microbiome composition, diversity, and potential functions using tea leaf quality measurements and high-throughput sequencing of the 16S/ITS rDNA genes. Results showed that spraying Bt1 significantly increased the contents of free amino acids (by 15.27%), flavonoids (by 18.00%), soluble sugars (by 62.55%), and key compounds such as epicatechin gallate (by 10.50%), gallocatechin gallate (by 122.52%), and epigallocatechin gallate (by 61.29%), leading to improved leaf quality. Co-occurrence network analysis indicated that the community structure of both epiphytic and endophytic microbes became more complex after Bt treatment. The abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as <i>Novosphingobium</i>, <i>Methylobacterium</i>, and <i>Sphingomonas</i>, increased significantly, while pathogenic fungi like <i>Aspergillus</i> and <i>Phyllosticta</i> decreased. Functional prediction indicated enhanced amino acid metabolism, secondary metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism, particularly the biosynthesis of flavonoids, which supports disease resistance and boosts secondary metabolite levels. Furthermore, Bt application reduced pathogenic fungi, enhancing the tea plant’s resistance to diseases. Overall, foliar spraying of Bt can positively alter the phyllosphere microbiome by enriching beneficial bacteria and improving metabolic functions, ultimately enhancing tea plant resistance and quality, and providing a scientific basis for sustainable pest management in tea cultivation.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/13/1386Btfunctional predictionhigh-throughput sequencingphyllosphere microbiome structuremetabolic functiontea plant resistance |
| spellingShingle | Yulin Xiong He Liu Dongliang Li Wei Xie Zhong Wang Xiaohong Fang Jizhou Wang Wei Chen Xi Du Yanyan Li Chuanpeng Nie Chuanhua Yin Pumo Cai Yongcong Hong Foliar Application of <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> Enhances Tea Quality and Plant Defense via Phyllosphere Microbiome Modulation Agriculture Bt functional prediction high-throughput sequencing phyllosphere microbiome structure metabolic function tea plant resistance |
| title | Foliar Application of <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> Enhances Tea Quality and Plant Defense via Phyllosphere Microbiome Modulation |
| title_full | Foliar Application of <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> Enhances Tea Quality and Plant Defense via Phyllosphere Microbiome Modulation |
| title_fullStr | Foliar Application of <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> Enhances Tea Quality and Plant Defense via Phyllosphere Microbiome Modulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Foliar Application of <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> Enhances Tea Quality and Plant Defense via Phyllosphere Microbiome Modulation |
| title_short | Foliar Application of <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> Enhances Tea Quality and Plant Defense via Phyllosphere Microbiome Modulation |
| title_sort | foliar application of i bacillus thuringiensis i enhances tea quality and plant defense via phyllosphere microbiome modulation |
| topic | Bt functional prediction high-throughput sequencing phyllosphere microbiome structure metabolic function tea plant resistance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/13/1386 |
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