Rhizosphere and cyst microbiome in suppressive soils

Disease-suppressive soils are exceptional ecosystems in which crop plants suffer less from specific soil-borne pathogens because they exploit microbial consortia for protection against infections. The soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines) is the most destructive pest of soybeans worldwide, and soils that suppress this pest have been identified in certain locations. The rhizosphere and cyst microbiomes may play vital roles in protecting soybeans in SCN-suppressive soils. By using an ultra-high-throughput sequencing approach, we identified the key fungal taxa involved in SCN suppression. Suppressive and conducive soils showed differences in the responses of fungal communities in the rhizosphere and cysts. In particular, special groups of fungi from both the rhizosphere and SCN cysts are jointly involved in regulating the ecological mechanisms of SCN suppressiveness. This novel study provides a detailed exploration of the microbiome of the soybean rhizosphere and SCN cysts from suppressive and conducive soils.