Breeding selection imposed a differential selective pressure on the wheat root-associated microbiome.

Area of Science:

• Plant-microbe interactions
• Microbial ecology
• Agricultural science

Background:

• Plant-microbiome associations are shaped by co-evolution.
• Accelerated plant evolution through breeding may disrupt these natural associations.
• Understanding microbiome shifts is crucial for sustainable agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how post-domestication breeding of wheat has impacted its root-associated fungal and bacterial communities.
• To compare the microbiomes of modern wheat cultivars, landraces, and their ancestors.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of root-associated fungal and bacterial communities in wheat seedlings across an evolutionary transect.
• Comparison of microbial taxa diversity and community composition.
• Assessment of microbial community assembly models.

Main Results:

• Wheat landraces exhibited the highest microbial diversity, while ancestors had the lowest.
• Modern wheat cultivars showed distinct bacterial and fungal communities compared to landraces and ancestors.
• Specific bacterial phyla (Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria) were enriched in older accessions, while others (Candidatus Saccharibacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Firmicutes) were enriched in modern cultivars.
• Fungal pathogens (Fusarium, Neoascochyta, Microdochium) were enriched in modern cultivars.
• Ancient wheat accessions created more isolated root environments.

Conclusions:

• Wheat breeding has led to dramatic shifts in root-associated microbiomes.
• Domestication and breeding have altered the composition and potentially the function of wheat's root microbiome.
• These changes may have implications for plant health and agricultural productivity.