In this study, members of the BENEFIT team explored different ways to repeatedly transfer microbiomes in soil and plant systems to see how those choices shape the microbes that develop. The researchers show that each design can lead to different outcomes, helping us better understand ways to guide microbial communities that support healthy crops and soils.
Keywords
- Microbiome passaging
- Microbe / Microbiome
- Microbial functions
Research Highlights
- Microbiomes, or the community of microbes, shape soil health, nutrient cycling, and plant growth
- But microbial functions are far less predictable and controllable than fertilizer use, crop growth, or plant breeding
- With no single best strategy, diverse iterative microbiome passaging* (repeatedly transferring microbes to select those that improve useful functions) designs can unlock the full potential of microbial synergies, improving plant performance and soil health
Editorial Reflections
What stands out in this work is that there isn’t one “best” way to do microbiome passaging; each approach brings out different strengths in the microbial community. The study highlights how important it is to think carefully about how experiments are set up, because small design choices can make a big difference in the results and in how we use microbiomes to improve agriculture.
The BENEFIT project aims to develop microbial bio-inoculants to improve crop growth in Canadian agriculture by ultimately helping to reduce the need for traditional fertilizers. The researchers are developing microbial strains to enhance crop productivity in cereals, brassicas, and legumes in Canadian soils. Contributing authors from the team are (in alphabetical order):
Curious about Team BENEFIT’s ongoing work? Visit queensu.ca/microbes-for-agriculture to learn more.
Food for Thought: Read the full article here. What potential advantages do you see in using iterative microbiome passaging compared to traditional approaches for improving soil or plant health?
References
Bell, T. H., Percy, S., Ahmadpanah, H., Ye, R., Blakney, A., Reardon, K., & King, W. L. (2025). Exploring diverse approaches to iterative microbiome passaging in soil and plant systems. Phytobiomes Journal, 9(3), [Article 359–368]. https://doi.org/10.1094/PBIOMES-11-24-0113-P
