Soybean Microbiome Recovery After Disruption is Modulated by the Seed and Not the Soil Microbiome

Endophytic microbiomes of healthy seed form a symbiotic relationship with their host. Seed and environment are sources microbes that colonize the developing plant; however, influence each remains unclear. Here, using irradiation combined surface sterilization to generate near-axenic disrupted reduced microbiomes, we contrasted colonization potential soil microbiomes. We hypothesized microbiome would be primary colonizer plant endophytic compartments. Our experimental design comprised four treatments, soybean as model plant: (i) nearly axenic growing in sterile environment, (ii) nonaxenic inoculated microbial extract, (iii) (iv) extract. After 14 days growth, plants were harvested, DNA was extracted from shoot, roots, rhizosphere subjected 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing, quantitative PCR quantification total community, functional genes involved N cycle. Community dynamics similar for most treatments within respective compartments, except treatment, where root differed other suggesting colonizes belowground compartment efficiently only when is severely disrupted. For all resembled seedborne bacteria aboveground preferentially. results highlight primacy over soils during early colonization, putting candidates engineering efforts.