Functional profiling of rhizosphere microbial communities in disease-suppressive soils against banana root rot

Banana root rot, caused by soil-borne pathogens, poses a significant threat to global banana production. Disease-suppressive soils, where plants exhibit reduced pathogen susceptibility despite pathogen presence, offer a promising avenue for sustainable disease management. This study investigates the functional potential of rhizosphere microbial communities in suppressive soils against banana root rot. Through metagenomic analysis and functional profiling, we identified key microbial taxa and metabolic pathways associated with disease suppression. Our findings reveal enriched biocontrol-related functions, including antimicrobial synthesis, nutrient competition, and induced systemic resistance, within the rhizosphere microbiome of suppressive soils. These insights advance the understanding of natural disease-suppressive mechanisms and may contribute to the development of microbiome-based strategies for controlling banana root rot.