A study led by scientists from Graz University of Technology (TU Graz)
in Austria shows thatapple treesinherit their microbiome to the same
extent as their genes. The results of this study lay the foundation for
new breeding strategies for healthy and climate-robust fruit and vegetables.

Microbiome research is only a few decades old, but it has already
produced some ground-breaking findings. One such finding is that humans,
animals, and plants have very specifically adapted microbiomes that have
taken over essential functions. Both organism and microbiome have
evolved in co-evolution, i.e. in mutual influence. Today, all organisms
are considered to be "holobionts" â?? jointly functioning units with
numerous specialized microorganisms.

The interdisciplinary team of researchers compared the microbiome of
modern domesticated apple crops with the microbiome of their wild
ancestors and the microbiome of closely related species. Using molecular
analyses and bioinformatic methods, the group determined for the first
time that the microbiome is inherited to the same extent as the genes.
Apples that are genetically similar thus also harbor a similar
microbiome. And surprisingly, modern apple varieties still contain some
of the microbiome of their wild ancestors.

The Study of the Microbiome Enables New Strategies for Healthy and
Climate-Resilient Crops (tugraz.at)
[www.tugraz.at]