Bacteria from ancestral wheat microbiomes help protect plants against root rot fungus
In the journal npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, researchers from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) and the University of São Paulo (USP) describe the role of three bacteria in suppressing a soil-borne wheat pathogen that causes root rot. The study paves the way for the development of inoculants that can be used in agriculture.
Brazilian researchers have discovered that specific bacteria from ancestral wheat microbiomes can protect plants against root rot fungus. In a study published in npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, scientists from EMBRAPA and the University of São Paulo found that three bacteria - Streptomyces virginiae, Paenibacillus ottowii, and Pseudomonas inefficax - significantly reduced root rot symptoms in wheat plants.
While the pathogen remained present in both diseased and healthy plants, the bacteria created a "microbiological shield" that prevented the fungus from causing disease. The findings could lead to the development of inoculants to protect wheat crops from root rot.
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