Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in plant microbiomes, engineering them to boost the presence of beneficial bacteria that protect plants from disease. Researchers from the University of Southampton, China, and Austria found that by manipulating a gene involved in lignin production, they could increase the population of beneficial bacteria in rice crops, making them more resistant to diseases. The team published their findings in Nature Communications and believe this breakthrough could significantly reduce the need for environmentally destructive pesticides.
The study focused on the lignin biosynthesis cluster of the rice plant, a complex polymer found in plant cell walls. By deactivating a specific gene, they confirmed its importance in shaping the microbiome community. Then, by over-expressing the gene to produce more of a specific metabolite, they were able to increase the proportion of beneficial bacteria in the plant microbiome.
The engineered plants were more resistant to Xanthomonas oryzae, a pathogen that causes bacterial blight in rice crops, which can lead to significant yield loss. The research team is now exploring how to influence the presence of other beneficial microbes to unlock various plant health benefits, including reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. This innovation has the potential to improve food security and environmental benefits.