Summary
This meta-analysis of 12 major crop species and their wild relatives challenges the assumption that plant domestication uniformly reduces rhizosphere bacterial diversity. Contrary to prevailing hypotheses, most domesticated plants exhibited increased bacterial diversity and more structured microbial communities compared to wild types. The findings suggest domestication effects are species- and context-specific, highlighting the need for native soil studies and genetic variation analysis in future microbiome research.
UK applicability
These findings are relevant to UK arable and horticultural systems where domesticated crops (wheat, barley, potato, bean) are widely grown. Understanding that domestication does not inherently impoverish rhizosphere microbial communities may inform soil health assessments and microbiome-based management strategies in UK farming systems.
Key measures
Rhizosphere bacterial diversity indices, community composition, degree of host influence on bacterial assemblages
Outcomes reported
The study compared rhizosphere bacterial community diversity, composition, and degree of host influence between domesticated crops and their wild relatives across 12 species. Results showed that domestication effects on bacterial diversity are species-specific and context-dependent, with most domesticated plants exhibiting increased bacterial diversity and more structured communities.
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