Microbial partners may help maize and sorghum respond to higher temperatures, study finds
In the UK, Phys.Org reported that new research suggests the microbiome near the surface of a plant’s roots, known as the rhizosphere microbiome, may play a role in helping crops respond to heat stress.
The paper, “Investigating GERMs: how genotype, environment, and rhizosphere microbiome interactions underlie heat response in maize and sorghum,” is published in New Phytologist, according to the report.
The researchers analyzed the function of microbes collected from the rhizosphere of maize and sorghum plants grown in both optimal and heat-stressed conditions. They found that the host plants’ genotype and the surrounding temperature were both associated with changes in microbial function.
Further research may focus on applications for this new knowledge, including if scientists can influence the rhizosphere microbiome to impart specific benefits to plants, the report added.
Category: Food & Agriculture
