The response of soil microbial communities to the infection of kauri ( Agathis australis ) seedlings with Phytophthora agathidicida

New Zealand's ancient kauri (Agathis australis) forests are under threat from the spread of dieback disease, caused by soil-borne pathogen Phytophthora agathidicida. Characterizing response soil microbiota to infection with P. agathidicida is essential identify how they may form a protective invasion and disease expression. This study infected 18-month-old seedlings standardized inoculum load for 6 weeks controlled environmental conditions. Following this, changes in diversity, composition biomass microbial communities associated were characterized using high-throughput 16S rRNA ITS gene region sequencing phospholipid fatty acid analysis. Significant differences found bacterial inoculated non-inoculated seedlings. Furthermore, soils had significantly higher relative abundance bacteria previously reported be plant suppression, which included several members Firmicutes. reductions fungal: finding contrasts previous field-based research that observed an increased diversity fungal diseased old growth forests. Further aims isolate their interactions required us begin selecting potential biocontrol agents against dieback.