Comparative metatranscriptomics reveals kingdom level changes in the rhizosphere microbiome of plants

Plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere have important roles in biogeochemical cycling, and maintenance of plant health and productivity, yet remain poorly understood. Using RNA-based metatranscriptomics, the global active microbiomes were analysed in soil and rhizospheres of wheat, oat, pea and an oat mutant (sad1) deficient in production of anti-fungal avenacins. Rhizosphere microbiomes differed from bulk soil and between plant species. Pea (a legume) had a much stronger effect on the rhizosphere than wheat and oat (cereals), resulting in a dramatically different rhizosphere community. The relative abundance of eukaryotes in the oat and pea rhizospheres was more than fivefold higher than in the wheat…

• EA
  Earth and Life Systems Alliance
• BA
  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

  Awards: BB/K001868/1, BBS/E/T/000PR5885, BB/K005952/1, BBS/E/T/000PR6193, BB/K001868/2