Use of seed-associated microbiota of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and pitch clover (Bituminaria bituminosa) to enhance drought tolerance in sensitive lentils (Lens culinaris)

As we know agriculture production is being affected by increasingly harsh conditions due to climate change, right? And we also know that legumes are one of the main crops due to their nutritional richness, being them the most affected ones. Even though drought events don´t have the same impact on all legume species, in some it can affect how the plant performs. But even so, some legume species can adapt to drought conditions, due to the microbiota that they can associate with and this is what we studied!

Seedborne microbiota from the wild, drought adapted legumes, may consist in a new source for drought tolerance-enhancers. New assays are required to include treatments with consortia that may offer more solid results and better resistance to plants under drought stressing conditions.