PubMed · 2026-06-04
Researchers propose transplanting the microbial communities living on plant leaves to protect crops from disease, drawing lessons from medical microbiome therapies. The approach is still early-stage but could reduce reliance on synthetic fungicides and bactericides.
Phyllosphere (leaf-surface) microbiome transplantation is proposed as a disease-management strategy analogous to fecal microbiome transplants used in human medicine for conditions like C. difficile infection.
Iterative passaging, repeatedly transferring microbiomes through multiple cycles in controlled environments, may gradually enrich beneficial microbial traits before field application.
Key barriers to implementation include lack of standardized protocols, risk of transferring pathogens alongside beneficial microbes, and unresolved regulatory frameworks.