Crop Management Impacts the Soybean (Glycine max) Microbiome

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Microbiology
• Ecology

Background:

• Soybean (Glycine max) is a globally significant crop, valued at $41 billion USD in the US in 2016.
• Farmers increasingly adopt alternative management for sustainability, but impacts on soybean-associated microbes are unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how long-term conventional, no-till, and organic management systems affect soybean-associated fungal and prokaryotic communities.
• To understand the influence of management, plant compartment, and growth stage on soybean microbiome structure and diversity.

Main Methods:

• DNA amplicon sequencing of Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and 16S rRNA genes.
• Analysis of microbial communities in soil, roots, stems, and leaves across three management systems and three growth stages.
• Beta and alpha diversity analyses, indicator species analysis, and network analysis.

Main Results:

• Microbial community structure (beta diversity) was primarily driven by sample origin (compartment), with management and growth stage also significant.
• Organic management showed lower fungal and bacterial Shannon diversity.
• Distinct prokaryotic and fungal communities were found aboveground (e.g., Sphingomonas, Davidiella) and belowground (e.g., Bradyrhizobium, Fusarium).
• No-till increased beneficial microbes like Bradyrhizobium and Glomeromycotina; Mortierella was an indicator for conventional/organic systems.

Conclusions:

• Long-term cropping management systems significantly alter soybean-associated microbial communities.
• Management practices influence microbial diversity and composition, with implications for plant health and ecosystem function.
• Understanding these shifts is crucial for developing sustainable soybean production systems.