16S rRNA sequencing rhizosphere communities of spring barley treated with C6-HSL
Rhizosphere samples of two different spring barley genotypes, Golden Promise and BCC436, treated with N-hexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C6-HSL). The seeds of both genotypes were soaked in either two mM C6-HSL or ethanol control for three hours and then dried overnight at room temperature. Subsequently, we sowed the treated seeds on pots containing either potting substrate or field soil. The soil was collected as bulk soil to extract the rhizosphere microbiome. After ten days, a second C6-HSL treatment was applied by foliar spraying of the growing seedlings. Three days later, the rhizosphere was collected, and rhizosphere pellets were stored at -20 C until total community DNA extraction. During the flowering stage, barley plants were again foliar-sprayed with either the control or the AHL treatment. The plants were then left to mature and dry. Rhizosphere samples of the dried plants were collected and stored at -20 C until total community DNA extraction.