AUTHOR=Adan Isack H. , Asudi George Ochieng , Niassy Saliou , Jalloh Abdul A. , Mutua Johnstone Mutiso , Chidawanyika Frank , Khamis Fathiya , Khan Zeyaur , Subramanian Sevgan , Dubois Thomas , Mutyambai Daniel Munyao 

TITLE=Comparative microbiome diversity in root-nodules of three Desmodium species used in push-pull cropping system

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1395811

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2024.1395811

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p><italic>Desmodium</italic> species used as intercrops in push-pull cropping systems are known to repel insect-pests, suppress <italic>Striga</italic> species weeds, and shift soil microbiome. However, the mechanisms through which <italic>Desmodium</italic> species impact the soil microbiome, either through its root exudates, changes in soil nutrition, or shading microbes from its nodules into the rhizosphere, are less understood. Here, we investigated the diversity of root-nodule microbial communities of three <italic>Desmodium</italic> species- <italic>Desmodium uncinatum</italic> (SLD), <italic>Desmodium intortum</italic> (GLD), and <italic>Desmodium incanum</italic> (AID) which are currently used in smallholder maize push-pull technology (PPT).</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p><italic>Desmodium</italic> species root-nodule samples were collected from selected smallholder farms in western Kenya, and genomic DNA was extracted from the root-nodules. The amplicons underwent paired-end Illumina sequencing to assess bacterial and fungal populations.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>We found no significant differences in composition and relative abundance of bacterial and fungal species within the root-nodules of the three <italic>Desmodium</italic> species. While a more pronounced shift was observed for fungal community compositions compared to bacteria, no significant differences were observed in the general diversity (evenness and richness) of fungal and bacterial populations among the three <italic>Desmodium</italic> species. Similarly, beta diversity was not significantly different among the three <italic>Desmodium</italic> species. The root-nodule microbiome of the three <italic>Desmodium</italic> species was dominated by <italic>Bradyrhizobium</italic> and <italic>Fusarium</italic> species. Nevertheless, there were significant differences in the proportion of marker gene sequences responsible for energy and amino acid biosynthesis among the three <italic>Desmodium</italic> species, with higher sequence proportions observed in SLD.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>There is no significant difference in the microbial community of the three <italic>Desmodium</italic> species used in PPT. However, root-nodule microbiome of SLD had significantly higher marker gene sequences responsible for energy and amino acid biosynthesis. Therefore, it is likely that the root-nodules of the three <italic>Desmodium</italic> species host similar microbiomes and influence soil health, consequently impacting plant growth and agroecosystem functioning.</p></sec>