Plant domestication does not reduce diversity in rhizosphere bacterial communities

Domestication has profoundly shaped the genetic makeup of numerous plant and animal species. While its genetic and phenotypic effects are well documented, the impact on the plant microbiome remains less understood. Two primary hypotheses have been proposed: a reduction in microbial diversity resulting from the domestication process and the diminished ability of host plants to control their microbiomes. We tested these hypotheses by comparing wild and domesticated plants across maize, wheat, barley, sunflower, tomato, cotton, bean, soybean, sorghum, rice, potato, and agave. We conducted a meta-analysis comparing the rhizosphere bacterial communities of domesticated plants and their wild relatives. Analyses focused on microbial diversity, community composition, and the degree of host influence on bacterial assemblages. Our results indicate that the effects of domestication are species-specific and context-dependent, with most domesticated plants exhibiting increased bacterial diversity and more structured communities. This study provides evidence that plant domestication does not lead to a uniform reduction in bacterial diversity or a consistent loss of host influence in bacterial assemblages. From these findings, we discuss new perspectives and the need for future studies incorporating native soils and host genetic variation, as well as analyzing diversity and microbiome function.