A global team of scientists has made a remarkable discovery: the wild ancestors of today’s cultivated crops are essential for safeguarding and rejuvenating the planet’s intricate soil biodiversity. Their research indicates that these “crop wild progenitors” (CWPs) nurture distinct and ecologically vital communities of underground microorganisms. This finding offers invaluable insights for developing more sustainable agricultural practices and fostering ecosystems that can withstand climate challenges.
The extensive research consortium brought together 25 groups from 11 countries, including Spain, India, Australia, Mexico, the United States, Argentina, China, Germany, Switzerland, Israel, and Chile. The project was spearheaded by María José Fernández-Alonso from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.
From India, Professor Appa Rao Podile and his team, including Ch. Danteswari and P.V.S.R.N Sarma from the University of Hyderabad’s Department of Plant Sciences, played a key role. They conducted field studies focusing on the wild relatives of ‘little millet’ crops, according to an official statement.
The researchers meticulously examined 125 populations representing 10 different CWPs. These samples were gathered from their natural habitats across various global environments. In-depth analysis of the soil samples unveiled that these wild plant relatives are home to rich and diverse microbial ecosystems, encompassing bacteria, fungi, protists, and invertebrates, each exquisitely adapted to its specific environmental conditions.
The study successfully identified four primary ecoregions, defined by factors such as soil texture, nutrient availability, aridity, pH levels, and the capacity for carbon storage. Despite the distinct characteristics of these diverse ecosystems – ranging from arid deserts to lush tropical forests and expansive savannas – a consistent ‘core’ soil community was observed across all CWPs. This suggests a profound evolutionary connection between plants and the microscopic life in their soil.
Within tropical zones, the soil communities were predominantly composed of acid-loving bacteria and fungal parasites, whereas desert soils were found to support decomposer fungi and heterotrophic protists. Each wild crop species actively cultivated its own unique microhabitat, underscoring its pivotal role in sustaining the rich biodiversity beneath the ground.
“By comprehending the natural microbiomes of wild crops, we can bridge the gap between modern agriculture and its ecological origins. These discoveries pave the way for nature-based solutions that promise to enhance both soil fertility and overall sustainability,” remarked Professor Appa Rao.
This pioneering research underscores the critical importance of preserving crop wild relatives. They are not merely genetic resources for future plant breeding, but also indispensable reservoirs of microbial diversity vital for maintaining healthy soils. The findings provide a robust framework for rehabilitating degraded soils, developing farming systems resilient to climate change, and advancing innovative microbiome-based agricultural technologies, ultimately aligning contemporary agriculture more closely with nature’s inherent wisdom.
The comprehensive study, titled ‘Native edaphoclimatic regions shape soil communities of crop wild progenitors’, was published in ISME Communications, a respected journal from Oxford University Press and the official publication of the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME), based in the Netherlands.