Rice diterpenoids affect microbial communities in nematode infested soils

This study examined the role of rice secreted diterpenoids in modulating the host associated microbiome in nematode infested soils and further assessed the effects of these microbiomes in interkingdom interactions. We used 16S and ITS2 rRNA gene amplicon analysis to characterize root and rhizosphere-associated microbiome of diterpenoid knock-out mutants and their wildtype parental line, at different stages of plant development. Our results provide significant insight into diterpenoids role in plant, microbe and nematode interactions and further, advance potential in exploiting phytoalexins for effective disease management of crops