Cultivation of Genetically Modified Soybeans Did Not Alter the Overall Structure of Rhizosphere Soil Microbial Communities
A study conducted by researchers from the Ministry of Ecology and
Environment, Nanjing China showed that the cultivation of genetically
modified (GM) soybean did not alter the overall structure of rhizosphere
soil microbial communities.
High-throughput sequencing revealed that, while GM soybeans slightly altered
bacterial and fungal composition, these changes were insignificant across
all growth stages. While GM soybean rhizosphere soil showed a higher
bacterial Shannon index during flowering, the analysis showed that there
were no significant differences in community structure between GM and non-GM
soybeans.
The research also revealed that major functional microbial groups remained
stable, and the number of root nodules in GM soybeans was unaffected, with
no significant impact on nitrogen-fixing bacteria throughout the growing
stage. However, the authors suggest continuous monitoring of the abundance
and ecological functions of Bradyrhizobium, Frankia, and Thelebolus.
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