Community analysis of bean root and soil microbiome

This study aimed to determine the influence of application of Metarhizium robertsii on the bacterial and fungal community profiles of common bean plants. Metarhizium is a genus of insect-pathogenic, endophytic fungi that are utilized in biological control efforts within agricultural systems. Previous studies have been conducted to ensure there is minimal to no off-target effects of Metarhizium application on numerous species, such as pollinators, however the impact on the microbial community of crops has not been examined. This study examined microbiome changes (16S and ITS2) in roots and rhizospheric soil of common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, grown in agricultural field-collected soil, under greenhouse conditions, after treatment with Metarhizium robertsii, in the presence or absence of insect larvae (Galleria mellonella).