metagenomics
Metagenomics is the study of all genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples, enabling researchers to characterize entire microbial communities without culturing individual species. In plant science, this approach is particularly powerful for exploring the complex microbiomes of the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and endosphere—revealing how diverse microbial communities influence plant health, nutrient uptake, and stress tolerance. By capturing the full genetic diversity of plant-associated microbes, metagenomics is accelerating discovery of novel genes and pathways that shape plant-microbe interactions.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-04-01
Scientists have discovered new types of viroids and viroid-like RNAs infecting plants — tiny circular RNA molecules that can cause disease without any protein coat. Advances in DNA sequencing technology are revealing these hidden pathogens across a wide range of plant hosts.
Next-generation sequencing enabled the discovery of numerous novel viroid and viroid-like RNA sequences not previously known to science.
Viroid-like RNAs were detected across a broad and expanding range of plant species, suggesting these agents are far more widespread than historically recognized.
Some newly identified viroid-like RNAs share structural features with known disease-causing viroids, raising concern about potential pathogenic effects on host plants.