A microbiome engineering framework to evaluate rhizobial symbionts of legumes

Abstract Background For well over a century, rhizobia have been recognized as effective biofertilizer options for legume crops. This has led to the widespread use of rhizobial inoculants in agricultural systems, but recurring issue emerged: applied struggle provide growth benefits largely attributed presence soil and termed ‘rhizobial competition problem.’ Scope Microbiome engineering emerged methodology circumvent problem by creating microbiomes that do not require exogenous rhizobia. However, we highlight an alternative implementation microbiome focuses on untangling complexities symbiosis contribute problem. We outline three approaches different starting inocula test hypotheses overcome Conclusions The suggest are targeted at various stages legume-rhizobium will help us uncover underlying molecular mechanisms conclude with integrative perspective these path forward future research legumes their complex microbiome.