Saudi Arabia: Targeting seed microbes to improve seed resilience

Published 2024년 2월 29일

Tridge summary

Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have identified the seed microbiome of fonio, a type of millet, as a potential target for enhancing crop resilience to climate stress. The study found that the host genotype, soil composition, and geo-climatic factors shape the fonio seed microbiome. Fonio's quick maturation and drought tolerance, along with its diverse heritable seed endophytic taxa, which support plant growth, make it a key crop in adapting to climate change. The research suggests that seed microbe engineering could be used to improve plant biomass and yield under stresses.

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Original content

Fonio (Digitaria exilis), a type of millet, is the oldest indigenous crop in West Africa and one of the fastest-maturing cereals. Despite its low yield, the combination of quick maturation and drought tolerance and its ability to thrive in poor soils make it a useful model for understanding how cereals can adapt to future climate change conditions.Nutritionally, fonio is comparable to other millets, says KAUST researcher Naheed Tabassum, but yields are much lower than the major cereal crops rice, maize, and wheat. Tabassum believes fonio could complement staple crops amid climate change and desertification challenges.Tabassum and colleagues, led by Heribert Hirt and Simon Krattinger, have investigated the potential to improve fonio by manipulating its association with soil microbes.Plants grown in arid conditions associate and interact with bacteria that help them combat abiotic challenges. Hirt and his group are experts on plant-microbe interactions and their role in plant growth ...

Source: Phys