Rhizosphere Microbiome Co-Occurrence Network Analysis across a Tomato Domestication Gradient.

Area of Science:

• Plant-soil interactions
• Microbiome research
• Agricultural science

Background:

• Plants recover unavailable phosphorus (legacy P) through microbial associations.
• The reliance on microbes for phosphorus acquisition varies with crop domestication and breeding.
• Understanding these plant-microbe interactions is crucial for sustainable agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore rhizosphere bacterial interactions in low-phosphorus conditions.
• To investigate how these interactions change with tomato domestication and breeding.
• To understand the role of plant breeding in shaping plant-microbe associations for nutrient acquisition.

Main Methods:

• Cultivation of wild, traditional, and modern tomato varieties in high- and low-phosphorus soils.
• Analysis of rhizosphere bacterial communities using microbial co-occurrence network analysis.
• Assessment of microbiome complexity across different tomato domestication stages and phosphorus levels.

Main Results:

• Rhizosphere microbiome complexity increased with tomato domestication under phosphorus deficit.
• Wild tomato exhibited a highly responsive rhizosphere microbiome to phosphorus fertilizer addition.
• This responsiveness surpassed that of traditional and modern tomato varieties.

Conclusions:

• Plant domestication and breeding have significantly shaped rhizosphere microbiome structure and function.
• Wild tomato relatives possess a more adaptable microbiome, offering potential for improving phosphorus acquisition in crops.
• These findings provide insights into the evolutionary dynamics of plant-microbe interactions and their agricultural implications.