Comparative Metagenomic Analysis of Seed Endobiome of Domesticated and Wild Finger Millet Species (Eleusine spp.): Unveiling Microbial Diversity and Composition.

Abstract

Domestication, which involves selective breeding, modern agricultural practices, and specific growing conditions, can influence the microbial and endophytic communities in crop plants. In this study, we examined the microbial diversity and community composition in the seeds of wild and domesticated finger millet species. We employed a metagenomic approach to investigate the seed microbial diversity and community composition of wild (Eleusine africana) and domesticated finger millet species (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn) grown in the same habitat. While our findings indicated no significant change in seed endobiome diversity due to domestication, there were differences in microbial community composition between wild and domesticated species. Seeds of domesticated species had higher relative abundance of certain bacterial genera including Helicobacter, Akkermansia, Streptococcus, Bacteroides, and Pseudomonas, whereas seeds of wild species had higher relative abundance of unclassified Streptophyta. The seed-associated microbiota also varied among domesticated finger millet accessions. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed a strong relationship between bacteria and fungi in domesticated compared to wild species. We discuss the results obtained in the larger context of the importance of seed endobiome and how domestication processes in crop plants may have impacted the seed endobiome diversity, composition, and function compared to their wild counterparts.