Diversity and heritability of the maize rhizosphere microbiome under field conditions

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1302837110
• Publication Date: 2013-04-02T01:35:20Z
• Authors: Jason A. Peiffer; Aymé Spor; Omry Koren; Zhao Jin; Susannah Green Tr...; Jeffery L. Dangl; Edward S. Buckler; Ruth E. Ley
• Keywords: Pyrosequencing; Bulk soil

The rhizosphere is a critical interface supporting the exchange of resources between plants and their associated soil environment. Rhizosphere microbial diversity influenced by physical chemical properties rhizosphere, some which are determined genetics host plant. However, within plant species, impact genetic variation on composition microbiota poorly understood. Here, we characterized bacterial 27 modern maize inbreds possessing exceptional grown under field conditions. Randomized replicated plots were planted in five environments three states, each with unique soils management Using pyrosequencing 16S rRNA genes, observed substantial richness, diversity, relative abundances taxa bulk as well fields. rhizospheres from exhibited both small but significant proportion heritable total across fields, substantially more replicates field. results this study should facilitate expanded studies to identify robust plant–microbe interactions at level individual polymorphisms genome wide association, so that plant-microbiome can ultimately be incorporated into breeding.