The soil microbiome is critical for the ecosystem, and agricultural practices that promote microbial diversity can support plant health and help protect against pests. But it is unclear which practice ...

Decades of research has shown promise for using microbiome science to solve several problems facing agriculture, but these findings have not yet been translated to practical recommendations for ...

Scientists have engineered the microbiome of plants for the first time, boosting the prevalence of 'good' bacteria that protect the plant from disease. The findings could substantially reduce the need ...

A team of biologists has identified that the pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae, responsible for wilt disease in many crops, secretes an ‘effector’ molecule to target the microbiome of plants to ...

Duke researchers discovered a relationship between a plant’s genes, microbiome and autoimmunity, offering potential applications in resisting climate change and improving human gut health. The study, ...

New research from Northern Arizona University points to the idea that, under some conditions, plants can "curate" their microbiomes—selecting good microbes and suppressing harmful ones—to adapt to ...

In a greenhouse on a narrow mesa top at Los Alamos National Laboratory, I’m working with a research team studying the role of the soil microbiome in how maize grows and tolerates drought. As the ...

Biologists have discovered how a pathogenic fungus can bypass the immune system of plants. By releasing an 'effector' molecule, it avoids elimination at a critical stage in its reproduction cycle.