Variation in Root Exudate Composition Influences Soil Microbiome Membership and Function
Valerie Seitz, Bridget B. McGivern, Rebecca A. Daly, Jacqueline M. Chaparro, Mikayla Borton, Amy M. Sheflin, Stephen Kresovich, Lindsay Shields, Meagan E. Schipanski, Kelly Wrighton, Jessica E. Prenni
Abstract
Decrypting the chemical interactions between plant roots and the soil microbiome is a gateway for future manipulation and management of the rhizosphere, a soil compartment critical to promoting plant fitness and yields. Our experimental results demonstrate how soil microbial community and genomic diversity is influenced by root exudates of differing chemical compositions and how changes in this microbiome result in altered production of plant-relevant metabolites. Together, these findings demonstrate the tractability of high-resolution multiomics tools to investigate soil microbiomes and provide new information on plant-soil environments useful for the development of efficient and precise microbiota management strategies in agricultural systems.