Microbiome: Soil science comes to life

East, R.

doi:10.1038/501s18a

Cited by 66 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Current large-scale agricultural systems rely heavily on monoculture cropping systems, in many cases without between-season crop rotation, which has been shown to lead to the build up of specialized plant pathogens, increased disease incidence, and decreased yield (Berendsen et al, 2012; Gentry et al, 2013). Research is being conducted to determine if the use of specific cover crops can be used to promote and maintain a beneficial microbiome between growing seasons for important crop species (East, 2013). Current methods of tilling may also negatively impact the plant microbial community; alternatives, including “conservation-” or “zero-tillage,” may have the potential to promote a healthy belowground microbiome by reducing moisture loss and maintaining naturally occurring strata within the soil, which helps support microbial biodiversity (East, 2013).…”

Section: Future Directions Of Abiotic Stress Tolerance Improvement Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building the crops of tomorrow: advantages of symbiont-based approaches to improving abiotic stress tolerance

Coleman‐Derr¹,

Tringe²

2014

Front. Microbiol.

184

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The exponential growth in world population is feeding a steadily increasing global need for arable farmland, a resource that is already in high demand. This trend has led to increased farming on subprime arid and semi-arid lands, where limited availability of water and a host of environmental stresses often severely reduce crop productivity. The conventional approach to mitigating the abiotic stresses associated with arid climes is to breed for stress-tolerant cultivars, a time and labor intensive venture that often neglects the complex ecological context of the soil environment in which the crop is grown. In recent years, studies have attempted to identify microbial symbionts capable of conferring the same stress-tolerance to their plant hosts, and new developments in genomic technologies have greatly facilitated such research. Here, we highlight many of the advantages of these symbiont-based approaches and argue in favor of the broader recognition of crop species as ecological niches for a diverse community of microorganisms that function in concert with their plant hosts and each other to thrive under fluctuating environmental conditions.

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Section: Future Directions Of Abiotic Stress Tolerance Improvement Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building the crops of tomorrow: advantages of symbiont-based approaches to improving abiotic stress tolerance

Coleman‐Derr¹,

Tringe²

2014

Front. Microbiol.

184

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“…A disruption of or change in the composition of these microbial communities can have farreaching effects on the host phenotype. Recent research has shown that inoculation of plants with microbes from other species can increase their stress tolerance and growth dramatically and that the modification of microbial communities has a range of commercial applications (42,43). For instance, salt, drought, and cold tolerance of two commercial rice varieties is enhanced by colonizing them with fungal endophytes isolated from other plant species (44).…”

Section: Genetic and Epigenetic Modification Of Stock For Commercial mentioning

confidence: 99%

Building coral reef resilience through assisted evolution

Oppen

Oliver

Putnam

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

755

659

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The genetic enhancement of wild animals and plants for characteristics that benefit human populations has been practiced for thousands of years, resulting in impressive improvements in commercially valuable species. Despite these benefits, genetic manipulations are rarely considered for noncommercial purposes, such as conservation and restoration initiatives. Over the last century, humans have driven global climate change through industrialization and the release of increasing amounts of CO 2 , resulting in shifts in ocean temperature, ocean chemistry, and sea level, as well as increasing frequency of storms, all of which can profoundly impact marine ecosystems. Coral reefs are highly diverse ecosystems that have suffered massive declines in health and abundance as a result of these and other direct anthropogenic disturbances. There is great concern that the high rates, magnitudes, and complexity of environmental change are overwhelming the intrinsic capacity of corals to adapt and survive. Although it is important to address the root causes of changing climate, it is also prudent to explore the potential to augment the capacity of reef organisms to tolerate stress and to facilitate recovery after disturbances. Here, we review the risks and benefits of the improvement of natural and commercial stocks in noncoral reef systems and advocate a series of experiments to determine the feasibility of developing coral stocks with enhanced stress tolerance through the acceleration of naturally occurring processes, an approach known as (human)-assisted evolution, while at the same time initiating a public dialogue on the risks and benefits of this approach.adaptation | climate change | microbial symbionts | selective breeding | transgenerational acclimatization

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“…In recent years, several microbial biofertilizers and inoculants were formulated, produced, marketed, and successfully used by farmers worldwide (Bhardwaj et al, 2014). Although plants are being considered as a metaorganism (East, 2013), our understanding of the exact manifestation of this microbiome on plant health in terms of phenotypes is insufficient. Of late, there is a surge to understand and explore the genomic wealth of rhizosphere microbes.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional Soil Microbiome: Belowground Solutions to an Aboveground Problem

2014

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There is considerable evidence in the literature that beneficial rhizospheric microbes can alter plant morphology, enhance plant growth, and increase mineral content. Of late, there is a surge to understand the impact of the microbiome on plant health. Recent research shows the utilization of novel sequencing techniques to identify the microbiome in model systems such as Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and maize (Zea mays). However, it is not known how the community of microbes identified may play a role to improve plant health and fitness. There are very few detailed studies with isolated beneficial microbes showing the importance of the functional microbiome in plant fitness and disease protection. Some recent work on the cultivated microbiome in rice (Oryza sativa) shows that a wide diversity of bacterial species is associated with the roots of field-grown rice plants. However, the biological significance and potential effects of the microbiome on the host plants are completely unknown. Work performed with isolated strains showed various genetic pathways that are involved in the recognition of host-specific factors that play roles in beneficial host-microbe interactions. The composition of the microbiome in plants is dynamic and controlled by multiple factors. In the case of the rhizosphere, temperature, pH, and the presence of chemical signals from bacteria, plants, and nematodes all shape the environment and influence which organisms will flourish. This provides a basis for plants and their microbiomes to selectively associate with one another. This Update addresses the importance of the functional microbiome to identify phenotypes that may provide a sustainable and effective strategy to increase crop yield and food security.

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Microbiome: Soil science comes to life

Cited by 66 publications

References 4 publications

Building the crops of tomorrow: advantages of symbiont-based approaches to improving abiotic stress tolerance

Building the crops of tomorrow: advantages of symbiont-based approaches to improving abiotic stress tolerance

Building coral reef resilience through assisted evolution

Functional Soil Microbiome: Belowground Solutions to an Aboveground Problem

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