TaNEP-1 genes modulate wheat-associated microbiome

Recently, barley nepenthesin-1 aspartic protease (HvNEP-1) was discovered to mediate Fusarium headlight (FHB) disease development. In this study, we investigated the roles of the TaNEP-1 copies in FHB resistance and in the assembly of host-associated microbiomes during FHB development. Our results shed light on the role of TaNEP-1 genes in wheat, revealing the distinct and interactive effect on FHB resistance and the modulation of the host-associated microbiota.