Identification of root associated microbiota in grain amaranths by 16S metagenomics

Grain amaranths considered as pseudo-cereals and have useful properties like C4 and high-lysine rich seeds. They have the potential to be used as a widespread crop as a leafy vegetable and a cereal. Microbial symbiosis with plant roots has been known to enable plants to survive better and display beneficial characteristics like drought resistance. This study aims to identify the root-associated bacteria that are uniquely enriched in grain amaranths using 16S rRNA metagenomics by profiling six different plant species viz. Amaranthus hypochondriacus, Amaranthus caudatus, Amaranthus cruentus, Beta vulgaris, Solanum lycopersicum and Cicer arietinum. This would enable to understand the bacterial community that could play a role in some of the useful properties of grain amaranths.