Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Plant Stress and Germplasm Development Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #420059

Research Project: Development of Climate Resilient Germplasm and Management Tools for Sustainable Row Crop Production

Location: Plant Stress and Germplasm Development Research

Title: Microbiome diversity – a new approach for combating Fusarium wilt race 4 (FOV4) infection in cotton

Author
item LASSI, ILHAM - Texas Tech University
item ABDELRAHMAN, MOSTAFA - Texas Tech University
item Jobe, Timothy
item FOKAR, MOHAMED - Texas Tech University
item Ulloa, Mauricio

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/29/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is a globally significant crop, but its production is increasingly threatened by soil-borne pathogens such as Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (FOV), particularly in the U.S. “Cotton Belt”. Understanding the relationship between soil properties and microbial communities is crucial for developing disease-resistant cultivars. This study investigated the elemental composition and microbial diversity in five cotton fields (F1 - F5) in the far west Texas region of El Paso County, focusing on soils that exhibit either suppressive or inductive behavior toward FOV. Elemental analysis revealed significant variations in the concentration of elements across the fields, with fields F2 and F5 showing higher levels of aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), and iron (Fe), while F4 had the lowest concentrations. Microbial diversity analysis using ITS amplicon-based metagenomics identified distinct differences between suppressive (F3 and F4) and inductive (F1, F2, and F5) soils. Alpha diversity metrics indicated higher microbial diversity in suppressive soils, particularly in F4, while inductive soils exhibited lower diversity. Beta diversity analysis through PCoA and NMDS revealed significant separation between the fungal communities in suppressive and inductive soils, with suppressive field F4 showing a unique community structure dominated by Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and other fungal phyla. Taxonomic profiling revealed a higher diversity of fungal communities in suppressive soils, with notable genera such as Actinomucor, Fusarium, and Penicillium being more prevalent in F4. Conversely, the inductive soils showed an abundance of Alternaria, Cladosporium, and Stachybotrys, genera often linked to plant pathogenicity or soil colonization, likely contributing to the inductive properties of these soils. These results suggest that suppressive soils support more diverse and complex microbial communities, which may play a role in inhibiting FOV and other pathogens through mechanisms such as the secretion of defense compounds or competition for resources. This study offers valuable insights into the relationship between soil microbiome composition and FOV disease suppression, paving the way for more sustainable cotton cultivation practices.