Microbiome breeding: conceptual and practical issues.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Microbiome breeding is an emerging artificial selection technique.
• It aims to alter host-associated microbial communities for host benefit.
• Feasibility relies on genetic factors influencing host traits and microbiome transmissibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify microbiome selection principles and contrast them with standard selection.
• To elucidate eco-evolutionary processes for practical microbiome breeding guidelines.
• To identify host species suitable for microbiome breeding.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual clarification of selection mechanisms.
• Quantitative genetic framework application.
• Eco-evolutionary process elucidation.

Main Results:

• Microbiome selection shares principles with standard selection but operates on microbial genetic factors.
• Guidelines for optimizing microbiome breeding were established.
• Characteristics of amenable host species were identified.

Conclusions:

• Microbiome breeding is a viable strategy for host trait improvement.
• Understanding eco-evolutionary dynamics is key to successful implementation.
• This work provides a foundation for advancing microbiome breeding programs.