New research from Northern Arizona University points to the idea that under some conditions, plants can “curate” their microbiomes—selecting good microbes and suppressing harmful ones—to adapt to their environments.
New research from Northern Arizona University points to the idea that under some conditions, plants can “curate” their microbiomes—selecting good microbes and suppressing harmful ones—to adapt to their environments. The findings have significant implications for sustainable agriculture and offer a greater understanding of how complex ecosystems adapt in a changing environment.
Regents’ Professor Nancy Collins Johnson in the School of Earth and Sustainability at NAU and professor César Marín from Universidad Santo Tomás in Chile authored the paper, published in July in The ISME Journal, introducing the concept of functional team selection.
Put simply, plants have a microbiome in and around their roots that is composed of diverse communities of fungi, bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. These communities help plants get nutrients and water from soil and protect plants from stress and disease. For decades, people have attempted to recreate these diverse communities, and their beneficial effects, commercially. However, these products often fail to provide the expected benefits to plants.
Read more at: Northern Arizona University
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