Deciphering the rhizosphere microbiome structure and composition of nature farming soybean (Glycine max) with different nodulation phenotypes. Bacteria

Plants grown using nature farming methods, devoid of agrochemicals, rely on the rhizosphere microbiota for growth and fitness. However, the microbiome of such plants remains largely unexplored. Moreover, legumes, such as soybean engage in root-nodule-symbiosis (RNS) with rhizobia that alters root morphology, yet the full implications of RNS on rhizosphere composition are unclear. In this study, we investigated the rhizosphere microbiomes of soybeans grown under different soil conditions, including undisturbed natural soil and fumigant-treated soils, to elucidate the impact of soybean nodulation phenotypes, available soil pools, and agricultural practices on the rhizosphere microbiome composition and structure. Most importantly, we used nature farming soils in this study to better understand the similarities between the rhizosphere-associated microbiota of soybeans from various nature farming soils.