Grapevine root age and root associated microbes (16s and ITS)

Root metabolic activity in woody perennial species rapidly varies as roots age, but it is unclear if root-associated microbial assemblages shift as well. In field-grown grapevines, we investigated whether the age of first-order roots, the most metabolically-active and ephemeral of root orders, is an important source of microbial variation in the soil adjacent to roots. We hypothesized that expected metabolic differences between young and old roots would result in differences in rhizoplane microbial (i.e., bacterial and fungal) diversity and composition.