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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #385198
Research Project: Development and Application of Genomic-assisted Breeding Strategies to Produce Disease-resistant Cacao Genetic Resources

Location: Subtropical Horticulture Research

Title: Cacao Rootstock Effects Outweigh Scion Effects on Nutrient Acquisition and the Rhizobiome

Author
item SCHMIDT, JENNIFER - M & M Mars Company - United States
item DUVAL, ASHLEY - M & M Mars Company - United States
item Puig, Alina
item TEMPELEU, ALEXANDRA - M & M Mars Company - United States
item CHAPARRO, JOSE - University Of Florida
item MOTAMAYOR, JUAN CARLOS - Non ARS Employee

Submitted to: International Society of Root Research Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/7/2021
Publication Date: 5/25/2021
Citation: Schmidt, J., DuVal, A., Puig, A., Tempeleu, A., Chaparro, J., Motamayor, J.C. 2021. Cacao rootstock effects outweigh scion effects on nutrient acquisition and the rhizobiome. 11th Symposium of the International Society of Root Research , Online. May 24-28, 2021

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Many perennial crops are grafted to combine favorable scion characteristics (e.g. flavor, fruit quality) with rootstock-mediated traits (e.g. disease resistance, nutrient uptake). However, relatively little is known about rootstock scion interactions in cacao (Theobroma cacao). We assessed rootstock-scion interactions and their relationship to plant nutrition and rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities (rhizobiomes) in cacao seedlings representing eight rootstock populations and three scions. Rootstock effects were much stronger than scion effects on both leaf nutrient content and the rhizosphere microbiome. Nutrient-efficient cacao rootstocks with favorable microbial associations should be breeding targets and could be grafted with elite scions.