Summary Symbiotic microbes have become increasingly recognized to mediate interactions between natural enemies and their hosts. The ecologies of these symbioses, however, are poorly understood in many systems, a predictive framework is needed guide future studies. To achieve this, we focus on heritable, defensive insects. Our review laboratory‐based studies identifies diverse bacterial species that independently evolved protect range insects against parasitoids, parasites, predators...

Abstract Heritable genetic variation is required for evolution, and while typically encoded within nuclear organellar genomes, several groups of invertebrates harbour heritable microbes serving as additional sources variation. Hailing from the symbiont‐rich insect order H emiptera, pea aphids ( A cyrthosiphon pisum ) possess symbionts with roles in host plant utilization, thermotolerance protection against natural enemies. As vary numbers types harboured symbionts, these bacteria provide...

The microbiome can significantly impact host phenotypes and serve as an additional source of heritable genetic variation. While patterns across eukaryotes are consistent with a role for symbiotic microbes in macroevolution, few studies have examined symbiont-driven evolution or the ecological implications dynamic temporal, spatial scales. pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, its eight bacterial endosymbionts served model on symbiosis potential contributions to ecology evolution. But we know...

Agricultural practices affect soil microbes which are critical to health and sustainable agriculture. To understand prokaryotic fungal assembly under agricultural practices, we use machine learning-based methods. We show that fertility source is the most pronounced factor for microbial especially fungi, its effect decreases with depths. Fertility also shapes co-occurrence patterns revealed by learning, leading fungi-dominated modules sensitive down 30 cm depth. Tillage affects microbiomes at...

Abstract Industrial hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.) production is expanding in the United States, generating sustained interest this multipurpose crop, though optimal agronomic conditions (e.g., row spacing, planting density, and nutrient management) for maximizing fiber yield remain unclear many regions. Key factors like spacing not only affect resource utilization but also play a crucial role weed suppression, especially regenerative organic systems. This research at Rodale Institute, Kutztown,...

Abstract Environmental factors, including temperature, can have large effects on species interactions, mutualisms and antagonisms. Most insect are infected with heritable bacterial symbionts many protecting their hosts from natural enemies. However, or products thermally sensitive; hence, effectiveness may vary across a range of temperatures. In the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum , symbiont Hamiltonella defensa its associated APSE bacteriophages confer resistance to this aphid's dominant...

Animal-associated microbiomes are often comprised of structured, multispecies communities, with particular microbes showing trends co-occurrence or exclusion. Such structure suggests variable community stability, costs and benefits-possibilities implications for symbiont-driven host adaptation. In this study, we performed systematic screening maternally transmitted, facultative endosymbionts the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. Sampling across six locales, up to 5 years collection in each,...

Abstract Facultative, heritable endosymbionts are found at intermediate prevalence within most insect species, playing frequent roles in their hosts’ defence against environmental pressures. Focusing on Hamiltonella defensa , a common bacterial endosymbiont of aphids, we tested the hypothesis that such pressures impose seasonal balancing selection, shaping widespread infection polymorphism. In our studied pea aphid ( Acyrthosiphon pisum ) population, frequencies ranged from 23.2% to 68.1%...

Abstract Cover crop residue retention on the soil surface can suppress weeds and improve organic no-till soybean ( Glycine max ) yield profitability compared to a tilled system. Appropriate cereal rye Secale cereale fall planting date termination methods in spring are critical achieve these benefits. A plot-scale agronomic experiment was carried out from September 2018 October 2021 Kutztown, PA, USA demonstrate influence of (September or October) mechanical method [no-till (I & J...

Ergothioneine (ERGO), a sulfur-containing antioxidant biosynthesized by fungi and certain bacteria, has garnered increasing attention for its potential health benefits role in mitigating oxidative stress. While significance human is well-documented, the agricultural context of ERGO, particularly biosynthesis soils uptake plants, remains underexplored. This study investigates interactions between farming systems, tillage practices, soil microbial communities, stress exposure index shaping...

Abstract Long‐term agricultural experiments are uniquely positioned to capture the spatiotemporal dynamics of farming system effects on soil profile properties, which typically require decades for measurable changes become apparent. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations stocks were determined at a depth 0–30 cm in 34th year Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial (FST), Kutztown, Pennsylvania, USA. Only agriculture (OA) with manure (OA‐MNR) plots had higher SOC than...

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a widely cultivated crop due to its short production cycle and high market demand. However, powdery mildew (Golovinomyces cichoracearum) poses significant threat, reducing yields by up 30% in various lettuce cultivars. This greenhouse study, conducted at the Rodale Institute Pennsylvania, evaluated impacts of pre-transplant UV light exposure post-planting application an OMRI-certified fungicide, potassium bicarbonate (MilStop), on infestation, yield,...

Abstract Industrial hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.) is a versatile crop with applications in fiber, seeds, and medicine. Recent legalization has renewed interest industrial the United States, particularly fiber production, which critical role carbon (C) sequestration various industries, including textiles construction. A 2‐year field experiment (2022–2023) was conducted at Rodale Institute—Pocono Organic Center, Blakeslee, PA, evaluating performance of four varieties (MS 77, Futura 75, Santhica...

Abstract Most insects harbour influential, yet non-essential heritable microbes in their hemocoel. Communities of these symbionts exhibit low diversity. But frequent multi-species nature raises intriguing questions on roles for symbiont–symbiont synergies host adaptation, and the stability symbiont communities, themselves. In this study, we build knowledge species-defined community structure across US populations pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. Through extensive genotyping, show that aphids'...

Most U.S. farms today specialize in either crop or livestock production, failing to harness the potential economic and environmental benefits of integrated crop–livestock systems (ICLS). This specialization is particularly contradictory for organic operations, which aim promote biodiversity reduce reliance on outside sources feed fertility. study investigated challenges opportunities experienced by farmers interested integrating crops organically managed Iowa, Pennsylvania, Minnesota....

Societal Impact Statement Evidence has emerged that the antioxidant ergothioneine may be important in preventing many inflammatory diseases humans. However, is not produced by humans or plants and only made fungi some bacteria soils. As such, get from eating (mushrooms) take it up soil. In this study, we found growing with beneficial called arbuscular mycorrhizal increased amount of plant tissues. This suggests promoting agricultural practices maintain healthy populations soil improve...

Abstract Industrial hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.), displaying more than 25,000 products, has been grown in North America since the 16 th century. However, knowledge gaps persist optimizing agronomic practices, including precision nitrogen (N) management, which is crucial for yield and phytochemical quality, example, delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabidiol (CBD). Addressing these gaps, a 2‐year field trial (2022 2023) was conducted at Rodale Institute‐Pocono Organic Center Blakeslee, PA,...

Alternative grazing systems that incorporate cover crops may be useful to achieve a longer season and maximize forage production. However, little is known about their impact on soil properties, especially in the presence or absence of cattle early spring. The aim this study was evaluate interacting effects cropping with without rotation corn soybean balance dynamics fertility enzyme activity. This conducted as system experiment between 2015 2019 Minnesota Pennsylvania, USA. experimental...

Insects harbor a variety of maternally inherited bacterial symbionts. As such, variation in symbiont presence/absence, the combinations harbored symbionts, and genotypes species provide heritable genetic potential use insects' adaptive repertoires. Understanding natural importance symbionts is challenging but studying their dynamics over time can help to elucidate for such symbiont-driven insect adaptation. Toward this end, we studied seasonal six transferred multivoltine pea aphid...

Reducing tillage has been widely promoted to reduce soil erosion, maintain health, and sustain long-term food production. The effects of reducing on crop nutritional quality in organic conventional systems, however, not explored. One possible driver might be the changing nitrogen (N) availability associated with reduced various management systems. To test how affects under contrasting farming systems varied N inputs, we measured (protein, fat, starch, ash, net energy, total digestible...

Reducing tillage and supporting continuous living cover (CLC) can improve agroecosystem sustainability under both organic conventional field crop production. What is less clear, however, how reducing affects the economic of systems with CLC as compared to systems. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a comprehensive analysis based on records yields from long-term Farming Systems Trial (FST) at Rodale Institute in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. The FST (established 1981) comprises three...

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background:</bold>Soil microbiomes are critical to soil health and sustainable agriculture. Microbiome structures differ across agricultural soils that experience different management practices, such as tillage, fertilizers, cover crops. Environmental factors, including those related management, microbiome-interactions alter these microbial communities. However, the full extent of influences relationships is not comprehensively understood. Here, we applied...