Zhang_2025_Cell__

Rice tillering is an important agronomic trait regulated by plant genetic and environmental factors. However, the role and mechanism of the root microbiota in modulating rice tillering have not been explored. Here, we examined the root microbiota composition and tiller numbers of 182 genome-sequenced rice varieties grown under field conditions and uncovered a significant correlation between root microbiota composition and rice tiller number. Using cultivated bacterial isolates, we demonstrated that various members of the root microbiota can regulate rice tillering in both laboratory and field conditions. Genetic, biochemical, and structural analyses revealed that cyclo(Leu-Pro), produced by the tiller-inhibiting bacterium Exiguobacterium R2567, activates the rice strigolactone (SL) signaling pathway by binding to the SL receptor OsD14, thus regulating tillering. The present work provides insight into how the root microbiota regulates key agronomic traits and offers a promising strategy for optimizing crop growth by harnessing the root microbiota in sustainable agriculture.