Effects of exogenous selenium treatment on the composition of endophytic bacterial and fungal communities in Amorphophallus muelleri

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element in the human body. Se-enriched agricultural products obtained by applying Se fertilizer are important sources of Se supplements. Se affects many aspects of plant growth, yields, and physiological characteristics. However, little is known about the changes in the composition and diversity of plant endophytic microbial communities under exogenous Se treatment. Here, we demonstrate that the foliar application of Se fertilizer significantly increases Se accumulation in konjac tissues and notably alters the composition and diversity of endophytic bacterial and fungal communities across different plant tissues. The root and corm microbiota showed the most significant response to Se. Compared with the untreated control group, the Se-treated group presented significantly increased Chao1 indices of bacterial communities in root tissues, along with higher Shannon and Chao1 indices of fungal communities in corm tissues. We also reported that foliar Se application promoted the enrichment of beneficial microorganisms such as Actinobacteriota, Firmicutes, Bradyrhizobium and Streptomyces across different plant tissues of A. muelleri. Our findings establish a foundation for the development of Se-enriched konjac and for exploring and utilizing its functional microbial communities.