Exploring the Influence of Waterlogging on the Rhizosphere Microbiome associated with different Genotypes of Barley

Barley is a crucial crop in Europe and one of the world's leading producers. However, its productivity has been declining in recent years due to extreme climatic events, nutrient limitations, and other environmental fluctuations, with waterlogging being a significant contributing factor. Microbes in the rhizosphere (the narrow zone around plant roots) play a vital role in supporting plant health by facilitating nutrient acquisition and providing protection against both abiotic and biotic stress. Despite their importance, there is limited evidence on how legacy waterlogging affects the microbial community composition in the barley rhizosphere and how genotypic diversity influences these changes. In this study, we investigated these factors by sampling 20 plots under waterlogging and control conditions, encompassing 10 different barley genotypes, including both modern and traditional cultivars.