Interplay between Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, the bacteriome and phytopathogens in Lycoris radiata

Alkaloids are a large group of plant secondary metabolites with various structures and activities. It is important to understand their functions in the interplay between plants and the beneficial and pathogenic microbiota.
Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (AAs) are unique secondary metabolites in Amaryllidaceae plants. Here, we studied the interplay between AAs and the bacteriome in Lycoris radiata, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant containing high amounts of AAs.
The relationship between AAs and bacterial composition in different tissues of L. radiata was studied. In vitro experiments revealed that AAs have varying levels of antimicrobial activity against endophytic bacteria and pathogenic fungi, indicating the importance of AA synthesis in maintaining a balance between plants and beneficial/pathogenic microbiota. Using bacterial synthetic communities with different compositions, we observed a positive feedback loop between bacteria insensitive to AAs and their ability to increase accumulation of AAs in L. radiata, especially in leaves. This may allow insensitive bacteria to outcompete sensitive ones for plant resources. Moreover, the accumulation of AAs enhanced by insensitive bacteria could benefit plants when challenged with fungal pathogens.
This study highlights the functions of alkaloids in plant–microbe interactions, opening new avenues for designing plant microbiomes that could contribute to sustainable agriculture.