Synergetic modulation on ionic association and solvation structure by electron-withdrawing effect for aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries are emerging as one of the most promising large-scale energy storage systems due to their low cost and high safety. However, Zn anodes often encounter the problems of Zn dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution reaction, and formation of by-products. Herein, we developed the low ionic association electrolytes (LIAEs) by introducing 2, 2, 2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) into 30 m ZnCl2 electrolyte. Owing to the electron-withdrawing effect of -CF3 groups in TFE molecules, in LIAEs, the Zn2+ solvation structures convert from larger aggregate clusters into smaller parts and TFE will construct H-bonds with H2O in Zn2+ solvation structure simultaneously. Consequently, ionic migration kinetics are significantly enhanced and the ionization of solvated H2O is effectively suppressed in LIAEs. As a result, Zn anodes in LIAE display a fast plating/stripping kinetics and high Coulombic efficiency of 99.74%. The corresponding full batteries exhibit an improved comprehensive performance such as high-rate capability and long cycling life.

Comparative genomics reveals the adaptation of ammonia-oxidising Thaumarchaeota to arid soils.

Thaumarchaeota are predominant in oligotrophic habitats such as deserts and arid soils, but their adaptations to these arid conditions are not well understood. In this study, we assembled 23 Thaumarchaeota genomes from arid and semi-arid soils collected from the Inner Mongolia Steppe and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Using a comparative genomics approach, integrated with 614 Thaumarchaeota genomes from public databases, we identified the traits and evolutionary forces that contribute to their adaptations to aridity. Our results showed that the newly assembled genomes represent an early diverging group within the lineage of ammonia-oxidising Thaumarchaeota. While the genomic functions previously identified in arid soil lineages were conserved across terrestrial, shallow-ocean and deep-ocean lineages, several traits likely contribute to Thaumarchaeota's adaptation to aridity. These include chlorite dismutase, arsenate reductase, V-type ATPase and genes dealing with oxidative stresses. The acquisition and loss of traits at the last common ancestor of arid soil lineages may have facilitated the specialisation of Thaumarchaeota in arid soils. Additionally, the acquisition of unique adaptive traits, such as a urea transporter, Ca2+ :H+ antiporter, mannosyl-3-phosphoglycerate synthase and phosphatase, DNA end-binding protein Ku and phage shock protein A, further distinguishes arid soil Thaumarchaeota. This study provides evidence for the adaptations of Thaumarchaeota to arid soil, enhancing our understanding of the nitrogen and carbon cycling driven by Thaumarchaeota in drylands.

Consistent community assembly but contingent species pool effects drive ß-diversity patterns of multiple microbial groups in desert biocrust systems.

One of the key goals of ecology is to understand how communities are assembled. The species co-existence theory suggests that community ß-diversity is influenced by species pool and community assembly processes, such as environmental filtering, dispersal events, ecological drift and biotic interactions. However, it remains unclear whether there are similar ß-diversity patterns among different soil microbial groups and whether all these mechanisms play significant roles in mediating ß-diversity patterns. By conducting a broad survey across Chinese deserts, we aimed to address these questions by investing biological soil crusts (biocrusts). Through amplicon-sequencing, we acquired ß-diversity data for multiple microbial groups, that is, soil total bacteria, diazotrophs, phoD-harbouring taxa, and fungi. Our results have shown varying distance decay rates of ß-diversity across microbial groups, with soil total bacteria showing a weaker distance-decay relationship than other groups. The impact of the species pool on community ß-diversity varied across microbial groups, with soil total bacteria and diazotrophs being significantly influenced. While the contributions of specific assembly processes to community ß-diversity patterns varied among different microbial groups, significant effects of local community assembly processes on ß-diversity patterns were consistently observed across all groups. Homogenous selection and dispersal limitation emerged as crucial processes for all groups. Precipitation and soil C:P were the key factors mediating ß-diversity for all groups. This study has substantially advanced our understanding of how the communities of multiple microbial groups are structured in desert biocrust systems.

Core root-associated prokaryotic community and its relationship to host traits across wheat varieties.

The root-associated microbiomes play important roles in plant growth. However, it is largely unknown how wheat variety evolutionary relatedness shapes each subcommunity in the root microbiome and, in turn, how these microbes affect wheat yield and quality. Here we studied the prokaryotic communities associated with the rhizosphere and root endosphere in 95 wheat varieties at regreening and heading stages. The results indicated that the less diverse but abundant core prokaryotic taxa occurred among all varieties. Among these core taxa, we identified 49 and 108 heritable amplicon sequence variants, whose variations in relative abundances across the root endosphere and rhizosphere samples were significantly affected by wheat variety. The significant correlations between phylogenetic distance of wheat varieties and prokaryotic community dissimilarity were only observed in non-core and abundant subcommunities in the endosphere samples. Again, wheat yield was only significantly associated with root endosphere microbiota at the heading stage. Additionally, wheat yield could be predicted using the total abundance of 94 prokaryotic taxa as an indicator. Our results demonstrated that the prokaryotic communities in the root endosphere had higher correlations with wheat yield and quality than those in the rhizosphere; thus, managing root endosphere microbiota, especially core taxa, through agronomic practices and crop breeding, is important for promoting wheat yield and quality.

Biocrust diazotrophs and bacteria rather than fungi are sensitive to chronic low N deposition.

Anthropogenic long-term nitrogen (N) deposition may dramatically impact biocrusts due to the overarching N limitation of soil biota in deserts. Even low levels of N may reach a critical loading threshold altering biocrust constituents and function. To identify the impact of chronic and continuous low levels of N deposition on biocrusts, we created a realistic gradient mirroring anthropogenic N addition rate (2:1 NH4 + : NO3 - rates: 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 3 g N m-2  yr-1 ) and measured the response of bacteria and fungi within cyanobacterial-dominated biocrusts over 8 years in a temperate desert, the Gurbantunggut Desert, China. We found that once N deposition reached 1.5 g N m-2  yr-1 biocrust bacterial communities, including diazotrophs, were altered while no such tipping point existed for fungi. Above the threshold, bacterial richness was enhanced, the relative abundance of Chloroflexi, FBP and Gemmatimonadetes was elevated, and diazotrophs shifted from being dominated by Nostocaceae and Scytonemataceae (Cyanobacteria) to free-living Bradyrhizobiaceae (Alphaproteobacteria). Alternatively, the relative recovery of a few fungal species within the Lecanorales, Pleosporales and Verrucariales became either enriched or diminished due to N deposition. The chronic addition of N resulted in a dense and interconnected bacterial co-occurrence network that accentuated a functional shift from networks dominated by phototrophic species within the Nostocaceae, Xenococcaceae, Phormidiaceae and Scytonemataceae (Cyanobacteria) to ammonia-oxidizing species within the Nitrosomonadaceae (Betaproteobacteria) and nitrifying bacteria [i.e. Nitrospiraceae (Nitrospirae)]. Based on structural equation models, the effects of N additions on biocrust constituents were imposed through indirect effects on pH, soil electrical conductivity and ammonium concentrations. In summary, biocrust constituents are generally insensitive to chronic low levels of N depositions until rates reach above 1.5 g N m-2  yr-1 with diazotrophs being the most sensitive biocrust constituents followed by bacteria and finally fungi. Ultimately once the threshold is reached N deposition favours biocrust constituents utilizing inorganic N and other C sources over relying on phototrophic and/or N-fixing cyanobacteria for C and N.

Rational Design of ZnMn2 O4 Quantum Dots in a Carbon Framework for Durable Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Manganese oxides are promising cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) due to their high energy density and low cost. However, in their discharging processes, the Jahn-Teller effect and Mn3+ disproportionation often lead to irreversible structural transformation and Mn2+ dissolution, deteriorating the cycling stability of ZIBs. Herein, ZnMn2 O4 quantum dots (ZMO QDs) were introduced into a porous carbon framework by in-situ electrochemically inducing Mn-MIL-100-derived Mn3 O4 quantum dots and the carbon composite. In such ZMO QDs and carbon composite, the quantum dot structure endows ZnMn2 O4 with a shorter ion diffusion route and more active sites for Zn2+ . The conductive carbon framework is beneficial to the fast transport of electrons. Furthermore, at the interface between the ZMO QDs and the carbon matrix, the Mn-O-C bonds are formed. They can effectively suppress the Jahn-Teller effect and manganese dissolution of discharge products. Therefore, Zn/ZMO QD@C batteries display remarkably enhanced electrochemical performance.

A Symmetric All-Organic Proton Battery in Mild Electrolyte.

All-organic proton batteries are attracting extensive attention due to their sustainability merits and excellent rate capability. Generally, strong acids (e.g. H2 SO4 ) have to be employed as the electrolytes to provide H+ for all-organic proton batteries due to the high H+ intercalation energy barrier. Until now, the design of all-organic proton batteries in mild electrolytes is still a challenge. Herein, a poly(2,9-dihydroquinoxalino[2,3-b]phenazine) (PO) molecule was designed and synthesized, where the adjacent C=N groups show two different chemical environments, resulting in two-step redox reactions. Moreover, the two reactions possess considerable voltage difference because of the large LUMO energy gap between PO and its reduction product. More impressively, the C=N groups endow the π-conjugated PO molecule with H+ uptake/removal in the ZnSO4 electrolyte. As a result, a symmetric all-organic proton battery is achieved in a mild electrolyte for the first time, which exhibits enhanced electrochemical performance and also broadens the chemistry of proton-based batteries.

The assembly of wheat-associated fungal community differs across growth stages.

Plant-associated fungal communities play a vital role in plant adaptations, physiological functions, and productivity. Therefore, it is important to reveal the mechanisms driving the assembly of these communities. Yet it is still not fully understood how community assembly and structure differentiate in plant compartments, growth seasons, and varieties at large geographic distances. In this study, we analyzed bulk soil and plant-associated fungal communities of five wheat varieties across two growth stages in three biogeographic sites with distances of about 324, 534, or 800 km apart between any two locations. Our results indicated that the fungal community varied primarily across the sample types (leaf endosphere, root endosphere, rhizosphere, and bulk soil), followed by growth stage. Compared with the regreening stage, lower α-diversity and more dominance by abundant species in the fungal community were observed in wheat-associated compartments (four sample types except for bulk soil) at the heading stage. Additionally, within each wheat-associated compartment across every growth stage, location had stronger effects on fungal community assembly than the wheat variety. The effects of variety on fungal community assembly were location specific as were the growth-stage patterns of varietal effects on leaf endosphere and rhizosphere fungal communities. We further detected a less diverse but abundant core fungal taxa that could be grouped into three clusters associated mainly with location. This study characterized the interplay effects between plant selection (compartment, growth stage, variety) and environment (location) on wheat-associated mycobiomes by determining drivers of fungal community assembly and core fungal taxa in field conditions. KEY POINTS: • Fungal community assembly was mainly shaped by sample type and growth stage • A lower diversity and more abundant core fungal taxa were shown at heading stage • Location had stronger effects on fungal community assembly than variety.

Engineering Active Sites of Polyaniline for AlCl2 + Storage in an Aluminum-Ion Battery.

The reversible capacity of AlCl4 - intercalation/de-intercalation in conventional cathodes of aluminum-ion batteries (AIBs) is difficult to improve due to the large size of AlCl4 - anions. Therefore, it is highly desirable to realize the intercalation/de-intercalation of smaller Al-based ions. Here, we fabricated polyaniline/single-walled carbon nanotubes (PANI/SWCNTs) composite films and protonated the PANI nanorods. The protonation endows PANI with more active sites and enhanced conductivity. Hyper self-protonated PANI (PANI(H+ )) exhibits reversible AlCl2 + intercalation/de-intercalation during the discharge/charge process. As a result, the discharge capacity of the Al/PANI(H+ ) battery is twice as high as that of the initial composite films. PANI(H+ )@SWCNT electrodes also have a stable cycling life with only 0.003 % capacity decay per cycle over 8000 cycles. Owing to the excellent mechanical properties, PANI(H+ )@SWCNT composite films can act as the electrodes of flexible AIBs.

Thermal-Gated Polymer Electrolytes for Smart Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Smart self-protection is essential for addressing safety issues of energy-storage devices. However, conventional strategies based on sol-gel transition electrolytes often suffer from unstable self-recovery performance. Herein, smart separators based on thermal-gated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogel electrolytes were developed for rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs). Such PNIPAM-based separators not only display a pore structure evolution from opened to closed states, but also exhibit a surface wettability transition from hydrophilic to hydrophobic behaviors when the temperature rises. This behavior can suppress the migration of electrolyte ions across the separators, realizing the self-protection of ZIBs at high temperatures. Furthermore, the thermal-gated behavior is highly reversible, even after multiple heating/cooling cycles, because of the reversibility of temperature-dependent structural evolution and hydrophilic/hydrophobic transition. This work will pave the way for designing thermal-responsive energy-storage devices with safe and controlled energy delivery.

RpoN (σ54) Is Required for Floc Formation but Not for Extracellular Polysaccharide Biosynthesis in a Floc-Forming Aquincola tertiaricarbonis Strain.

Some bacteria are capable of forming flocs, in which bacterial cells become self-flocculated by secreted extracellular polysaccharides and other biopolymers. The floc-forming bacteria play a central role in activated sludge, which has been widely utilized for the treatment of municipal sewage and industrial wastewater. Here, we use a floc-forming bacterium, Aquincolatertiaricarbonis RN12, as a model to explore the biosynthesis of extracellular polysaccharides and the regulation of floc formation. A large gene cluster for exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and a gene encoding the alternative sigma factor RpoN1, one of the four paralogues, have been identified in floc formation-deficient mutants generated by transposon mutagenesis, and the gene functions have been further confirmed by genetic complementation analyses. Interestingly, the biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides remained in the rpoN1-disrupted flocculation-defective mutants, but most of the exopolysaccharides were secreted and released rather than bound to the cells. Furthermore, the expression of exopolysaccharide biosynthesis genes seemed not to be regulated by RpoN1. Taken together, our results indicate that RpoN1 may play a role in regulating the expression of a certain gene(s) involved in the self-flocculation of bacterial cells but not in the biosynthesis and secretion of exopolysaccharides required for floc formation.IMPORTANCE Floc formation confers bacterial resistance to predation of protozoa and plays a central role in the widely used activated sludge process. In this study, we not only identified a large gene cluster for biosynthesis of extracellular polysaccharides but also identified four rpoN paralogues, one of which (rpoN1) is required for floc formation in A. tertiaricarbonis RN12. In addition, this RpoN sigma factor regulates the transcription of genes involved in biofilm formation and swarming motility, as previously shown in other bacteria. However, this RpoN paralogue is not required for the biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides, which are released and dissolved into culture broth by the rpoN1 mutant rather than remaining tightly bound to cells, as observed during the flocculation of the wild-type strain. These results indicate that floc formation is a regulated complex process, and other yet-to-be identified RpoN1-dependent factors are involved in self-flocculation of bacterial cells via exopolysaccharides and/or other biopolymers.

Different substrate regimes determine transcriptional profiles and gene co-expression in Methanosarcina barkeri (DSM 800).

Methanosarcina barkeri (DSM 800) is a metabolically versatile methanogen and shows distinct metabolic status under different substrate regimes. However, the mechanisms underlying distinct transcriptional profiles under different substrate regimes remain elusive. In this study, based on transcriptional analysis, the growth performances and gene expressions of M. barkeri fed on acetate, H2 + CO2, and methanol, respectively, were investigated. M. barkeri showed higher growth performances under methanol, followed by H2 + CO2 and acetate, which corresponded well with the variations of gene expressions. The α diversity (evenness) of gene expressions was highest under the acetate regime, followed by H2 + CO2 and methanol, and significantly and negatively correlated with growth performances. The gene co-expression analysis showed that "Energy production and conversion," "Coenzyme transport and metabolism," and "Translation, ribosomal structure, and biogenesis" showed deterministic cooperation patterns of intra- and inter-functional classes. However, "Posttranslational modification, protein turnover, chaperones" showed exclusion with other functional classes. The gene expressions and especially the relationships among them potentially drove the shifts of metabolic status under different substrate regimes. Consequently, this study revealed the diversity-related ecological strategies that a high α diversity probably provided more fitness and tolerance under natural environments and oppositely a low α diversity strengthened some specific physiological functions, as well as the co-responses of gene expressions to different substrate regimes.

The Construction of Binary Phase Electrolyte Interface for Highly Stable Zinc Anodes.

Metal zinc is a promising anode candidate of aqueous zinc-ion batteries due to high theoretical capacity, low cost, and high safety. However, it often suffers from hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), dendrite growth, and formation of by-products. Herein, a triethyl phosphate (TEP)/H2 O binary phase electrolyte (BPE) interface is developed by introducing TEP-based electrolyte-wetted hydrophobic polypropylene (PP) separator onto the Zn anode surface. The equilibrium of the BPE interface depends on the comparable surface tensions of H2 O-based and TEP-based electrolytes on hydrophobic PP separator surfaces. The BPE interface induces Zn2+ solvation structure conversion from [Zn(H2 O)x ]2+ to [Zn(TEP)n (H2 O)y ]2+ , where most solvated H2 O molecules are removed. In [Zn(TEP)n (H2 O)y ]2+ , the residual H2 O molecules can be further constrained by the formation of H bonds between TEP and H2 O molecules. Consequently, the ionization of solvated H2 O molecules is effectively suppressed, and HER and by-products are effectively restricted on Zn anode surfaces in BPE. As a result, Zn anodes exhibit a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.12% and superior cycling performance of 6000 h, which is much higher than the case in single-phase aqueous electrolytes. To illustrate the feasibility of BPE in full cells, the Zn/Alx V2 O5 batteries are assembled based on the BPE and exhibited enhanced cycling performance.

The microgeo: an R package rapidly displays the biogeography of soil microbial community traits on maps.

Many R packages provide statistical approaches for elucidating the diversity of soil microbes, yet they still struggle to visualize microbial traits on a geographical map. This creates challenges in interpreting microbial biogeography on a regional scale, especially when the spatial scale is large or the distribution of sampling sites is uneven. Here, we developed a lightweight, flexible, and user-friendly R package called microgeo. This package integrates many functions involved in reading, manipulating, and visualizing geographical boundary data; downloading spatial datasets; and calculating microbial traits and rendering them onto a geographical map using grid-based visualization, spatial interpolation, or machine learning. Using this R package, users can visualize any trait calculated by microgeo or other tools on a map and can analyze microbiome data in conjunction with metadata derived from a geographical map. In contrast to other R packages that statistically analyze microbiome data, microgeo provides more-intuitive approaches in illustrating the biogeography of soil microbes on a large geographical scale, serving as an important supplement to statistically driven comparisons and facilitating the biogeographic analysis of publicly accessible microbiome data at a large spatial scale in a more convenient and efficient manner. The microgeo R package can be installed from the Gitee (https://gitee.com/bioape/microgeo) and GitHub (https://github.com/ChaonanLi/microgeo) repositories. Detailed tutorials for the microgeo R package are available at https://chaonanli.github.io/microgeo.

(2S,3S)-3-(3-Bromo-phen-yl)-6,6-dimethyl-2-nitro-2,3,6,7-tetra-hydro-benzo-furan-4(5H)-one.

The title compound, C16H16BrNO4, has two adjacent chiral C atoms and both have an S configuration. The fused cyclo-hex-2-enone and di-hydro-furan rings both adopt envelope conformations, with the quaternary C atom and the nitro-substituted C atoms as the respective flap. The flap atoms lie 0.607 (3) and -0.253 (2) Å, respectively, from the mean plane of the remaining ring atoms on opposite sides. The dihedral angle between the mean plane of the four coplanar atoms of the di-hydro-furan ring and the phenyl ring is 86.16 (3)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by weak C-H⋯O inter-actions, forming a ladder motif parallel to the b axis.

Diethyl 4-(2-meth-oxy-phen-yl)-2,6-di-methyl-1,4-di-hydro-pyridine-3,5-di-carboxyl-ate.

In the title compound, C20H25NO5, the di-hydro-pyridine ring adopts a flattened boat conformation. The meth-oxy-phenyl ring is almost perpendicular to the mean plane of the pyridine ring [dihedral angle = 88.42 (3)°]. The two carbonyl units adopt a synperiplanar conformation with respect to the double bonds in the di-hydro-pyridine ring. In the crystal, mol-ecules are connected by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into R 4 (4)(24) tetra-meric rings. A region of disordered electron density, located at the center of four adjacent mol-ecules, was treated with the SQUEEZE routine in PLATON [Spek (2009 ▶). Acta Cryst. D65, 148-155]. It is probably the result of traces of the solvent of crystallization and was not taken into account during the structure refinement.

Iron and lead ion adsorption by microbial flocculants in synthetic wastewater and their related carbonate formation.

Although microbial treatments of heavy metal ions in wastewater have been studied, the removal of these metals through incorporation into carbonate minerals has rarely been reported. To investigate the removal of Fe3+ and Pb2+, two representative metals in wastewater, through the precipitation of carbonate minerals by a microbial flocculant (MBF) produced by Bacillus mucilaginosus. MBF was added to synthetic wastewater containing different Fe3+ and Pb2+ concentrations, and the extent of flocculation was analyzed. CO2 was bubbled into the mixture of MBF and Fe3+/Pb2+ to initiate the reaction. The solid substrates were analyzed via X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The results showed that the removal efficiency decreased and the MBF adsorption capacity for metals increased with increasing heavy metal concentration. In the system containing MBF, metals (Fe3+ and Pb2+), and CO2, the concentrated metals adsorbed onto the MBF combined with the dissolved CO2, resulting in oversaturation of metal carbonate minerals to form iron carbonate and lead carbonates. These results may be used in designing a method in which microbes can be utilized to combine CO2 with wastewater heavy metals to form carbonates, with the aim of mitigating environmental problems.

A guide for comparing microbial co-occurrence networks.

The article provides a pipeline for comparing microbial co-occurrence networks based on the R microeco package and meconetcomp package. It has high flexibility and expansibility and can help users efficiently compare networks built from different groups of samples or different construction approaches.

Integrated organic and inorganic fertilization and reduced irrigation altered prokaryotic microbial community and diversity in different compartments of wheat root zone contributing to improved nitrogen uptake and wheat yield.

The effect of long-term water and integrated fertilization on prokaryotic microorganisms and their regulation for crop nutrient uptake remains unknown. Therefore, the impact of soil water and integrated fertilization after eight years on prokaryotic microbial communities in different compartments of root zone and their association with wheat nitrogen (N) absorption and yield were investigated. The results showed that compared with fertilization treatments (F), water regimes (W) more drastically modulated the prokaryotic microbial community structure and diversity in bulk soil, rhizosphere and endosphere. The increase of irrigation improved the prokaryotic diversity in the rhizosphere and endosphere while decreased the diversity in the bulk soil. Application of organic fertilizers significantly improved soil organic matter (SOM) and nutrient contents, increased rhizosphere and endophytic prokaryotic microbial diversity, and elevated the relative abundance of aerobic ammonia oxidation and nitrification-related functional microorganisms in rhizosphere and endosphere. Increasing irrigation elevated the relative abundance of functional microorganisms related to aerobic ammonia oxidation and nitrification in the rhizosphere and endosphere. Soil water content (SWC) and NH4+-N as well as NO3--N were key predictors of prokaryotic microbial community composition under W and F treatments, respectively. Appropriate application of irrigation and organic fertilizers increased the relative abundance of some beneficial bacteria such as Flavobacterium. Water and fertilization treatments regulated the prokaryotic microbial communities of bulk soil, rhizosphere and endosphere by altering SWC and SOM, and provided evidence for the modulation of prokaryotic microorganisms to promote nitrogen uptake and wheat yield under long-term irrigation and fertilization. Conclusively, the addition of organic manure (50 %) with inorganic fertilizers (50 %) and reduced amount of irrigation (pre-sowing and jointing-period irrigation) decreased the application amount of chemical fertilizers and water, while increased SOM and nutrient content, improved prokaryotic diversity, and changed prokaryotic microbial community structure in the wheat root zone, resulting in enhanced nutrient uptake and wheat yield.

Coordination of root auxin with the fungus Piriformospora indica and bacterium Bacillus cereus enhances rice rhizosheath formation under soil drying.

Moderate soil drying (MSD) is a promising agricultural technique that can reduce water consumption and enhance rhizosheath formation promoting drought resistance in plants. The endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica (P. indica) with high auxin production may be beneficial for rhizosheath formation. However, the integrated role of P. indica with native soil microbiome in rhizosheath formation is unclear. Here, we investigated the roles of P. indica and native bacteria on rice rhizosheath formation under MSD using high-throughput sequencing and rice mutants. Under MSD, rice rhizosheath formation was significantly increased by around 30% with P. indica inoculation. Auxins in rice roots and P. indica were responsible for the rhizosheath formation under MSD. Next, the abundance of the genus Bacillus, known as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, was enriched in the rice rhizosheath and root endosphere with P. indica inoculation under MSD. Moreover, the abundance of Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) with high auxin production was further increased by P. indica inoculation. After inoculation with both P. indica and B. cereus, rhizosheath formation in wild-type or auxin efflux carrier OsPIN2 complemented line rice was higher than that of the ospin2 mutant. Together, our results suggest that the interaction of the endophytic fungus P. indica with the native soil bacterium B. cereus favors rice rhizosheath formation by auxins modulation in rice and microbes under MSD. This finding reveals a cooperative contribution of P. indica and native microbiota in rice rhizosheath formation under moderate soil drying, which is important for improving water use in agriculture.