Microbiomes point to a more targeted approach to soybean production
In the Netherlands, HortiDaiy reported that the MicroBiomes4Soy consortium is investigating how soil microbiomes influence soybean performance, using samples from 100 agricultural soils across Europe. The research brings together Anastasija Jušković, PhD Student at the Austrian Institute of Technology; Maria Papadopoulou, PhD Student at Utrecht University; and Miriana Vicino, PhD Student at the University of Bologna.
Their work has found substantial variation in how different microbial communities affect soybean growth. Some communities consistently promoted plant development, while others had limited or negative effects. The findings also indicate that microbial performance depends on the wider ecological context, including the plant, surrounding microbial community and growing conditions.
Individual strains, including Bradyrhizobium and Azospirillum brasilense, have already demonstrated benefits in soybean. However, developing complete microbial communities that perform reliably remains technically challenging, according to the report.
The consortium describes “collaboromes” as microbial communities in which organisms can support one another through metabolite exchange, improved survival or complementary functions. This differs from a single-strain product, where an introduced microorganism must establish itself within an existing microbial community.
MicroBiomes4Soy is examining nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and microorganisms associated with improved drought tolerance. Nitrogen fixation in soybean is already well established, while phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms represent another potential route for improving nutrient availability.
Category: Food & Agriculture
