microbiome-diversity
Microbiome diversity refers to the variety and abundance of microbial communities—including bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms—that inhabit plant tissues, roots, and the surrounding soil. In plant science, the composition of these microbial communities profoundly influences plant health, nutrient acquisition, stress tolerance, and disease resistance. Understanding microbiome diversity enables researchers to harness beneficial microbial interactions to improve crop productivity and develop more sustainable agricultural practices.
PubMed · 2026-04-02
Researchers mapped the gut bacteria of wild boars across four countries and found that diet and lifestyle — not species — determine the makeup of the pig gut microbiome. They also discovered 538 previously unknown microbial species capable of breaking down plant fibers, offering potential tools to improve fiber digestion in farmed pigs.
Researchers assembled 3,288 high-quality microbial genomes representing 968 distinct species, of which 538 (55%) were previously unknown to science.
Gut microbiome composition was determined by diet and lifestyle rather than host species, splitting into two community types: C1 (81% wild/foraging animals) and C2 (93% captive/fed domestic pigs).
Wild boars (C1) showed lower microbial diversity despite their varied plant-rich diet, suggesting that unpredictable food availability favors fewer highly adaptable bacterial species over a rich community.