News
Plants predictably select growth boosting microbes regardless of soil type
New study shows crop species, and not soil type, primarily determines the beneficial functions provided by root-associated microbes.

In the study, soil obtained from across nine UK locations was used to cultivate six key arable crops (wheat, barley, oats, fava beans, oilseed rape, and sugar beet). Researchers found that although the local soil environment selected which kinds of bacteria were present, the crop species determined the beneficial microbial functions of those bacteria.  The findings have significant implications for the design of microbial inoculants and microbiome-assisted breeding strategies for sustainable agriculture.

The research team from Rothamsted Research, CABI, The John Innes Centre, The James Hutton Institute and The Scottish Rural Agricultural College used the UK Crop Microbiome Cryobank (UKCMCB), the world's first open crop and soil microbiome resource, to characterise more than 24,000 bacterial cultures and 315 soil microbiome libraries.

"What really stood out was that the soil environment dictates which bacteria are present, but the crop selects bacteria based on what beneficial functions they provide," said lead author Dr Rodrigo Taketani of Rothamsted Research. "This tells us that plants are actively selecting microbes for their functional properties — for example, to help with nutrient acquisition or stress tolerance — drawing on locally available bacteria to provide these services."

 Different crops seemed to “choose” microbes with different skills:

  • Sugar beet and oilseed rape rhizospheres attracted microbes that help plants survive dry conditions, likely because their large tap roots create a drier root environment.
  • Barley attracted microbes that help unlock zinc from the soil, which plants need to grow.
  • Fava bean rhizospheres attracted fewer microbes capable of breaking down organic sources of nitrogen in the soil, potentially because the legume–Rhizobium partnership already provides a sufficient nitrogen supply. 

 

"These functional differences between crops are remarkably consistent across very different soils and locations," said co-author Ian Clark of Rothamsted Research. "The fact that we see the same crop-specific patterns whether the soil came from Scotland or Hertfordshire tells us this is a genuine biological selection driven by the plant, not a quirk of any particular soil type."

"Due to the high microbial diversity and competition in soil a 'one size fits all' approach to microbial inoculation is unlikely to be optimal," said senior author Dr Tim Mauchline, also of Rothamsted Research. "A more effective long-term approach may be to breed crops that are better at selecting beneficial native soil microbes, rather than relying on introduced strains that often fail to establish."

Publication
Host plant selects bacterial rhizosphere microbiome function whereas community …
Contacts

Dr Rodrigo Gouvêa Taketani

Post-doctoral Research Scientist

ABOUT ROTHAMSTED RESEARCH

Rothamsted Research is the longest-running agricultural research institute in the world. We work from gene to field with a proud history of ground-breaking discoveries in areas as diverse as crop management, statistical interpretation and soil health. Our founders, in 1843, were the pioneers of modern agriculture, and we are known for our imaginative science and our collaborative approach to developing innovative farm practice.
Through independent research, we make significant contributions to improving agri-food systems in the UK and internationally, with economic impact estimated to exceed £3 bn in annual contribution to the UK economy. Our strength lies in our systems approach, which combines strategic research, interdisciplinary teams and multiple partnerships.
Rothamsted is home to three unique National Bioscience Research Infrastructures which are open to researchers from all over the world: The Long-Term Experiments, Rothamsted Insect Survey and the North Wyke Farm Platform.
We are strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), with additional support from other national and international funding streams, and from industry. We are also supported by the Lawes Agricultural Trust (LAT).

ABOUT BBSRC

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government.
BBSRC invests to push back the frontiers of biology and deliver a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future. Through our investments, we build and support a vibrant, dynamic and inclusive community which delivers ground-breaking discoveries and develops bio-based solutions that contribute to tackling global challenges, such as sustainable food production, climate change, and healthy ageing.
As part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), we not only play a pivotal role in fostering connections that enable the UK’s world-class research and innovation system to flourish – we also have a responsibility to enable the creation of a research culture that is diverse, resilient, and engaged.
BBSRC proudly forges interdisciplinary collaborations where excellent bioscience has a fundamental role. We pioneer approaches that enhance the equality, diversity, and inclusion of talent by investing in people, infrastructure, technologies, and partnerships on a global scale.

ABOUT LAT

The Lawes Agricultural Trust, established in 1889 by Sir John Bennet Lawes, supports Rothamsted Research’s national and international agricultural science through the provision of land, facilities and funding. LAT, a charitable trust, owns the estates at Harpenden and Broom's Barn, including many of the buildings used by Rothamsted Research. LAT provides an annual research grant to the Director, accommodation for nearly 200 people, and support for fellowships for young scientists from developing countries. LAT also makes capital grants to help modernise facilities at Rothamsted, or invests in new buildings.

JOIN US

Science, events and institute updates and discussions.