Prioritizing host phenotype to understand microbiome heritability in plants

Area of Science:

• Plant biology
• Microbiome research
• Evolutionary genetics

Background:

• The genotype-to-phenotype map is a long-standing challenge in genetics.
• Recent research connects this concept to the heritability of plant microbiomes.
• Host phenotype, rather than genotype, is a more direct driver of microbiome variation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the influence of plant phenotype on microbiome heritability.
• To refine the concept of microbiome compartments based on fine-scale trait variation.
• To investigate the interplay of deterministic and stochastic processes in shaping plant microbiomes.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of plant traits across different anatomical structures and developmental stages.
• Examination of microbiome variation in relation to host phenotypic traits.
• Assessment of temporal and spatial dynamics of host-microbiome interactions.

Main Results:

• Microbiome heritability is not uniform and varies with plant anatomy and development.
• Fine-scale variation within plant organs necessitates a refined understanding of microbiome compartments.
• The balance between host genetic and stochastic factors influencing microbiomes shifts across time and space.

Conclusions:

• Plant phenotype is a crucial, proximate factor for understanding microbiome heritability.
• Refining the concept of microbiome compartments is essential.
• Shifting focus to plant phenotype will advance insights into microbiome function and inheritance.