Deciphering the durum wheat kernels microbiome and metabolome to enchance its resilience to stresses

Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.) is among most cultivated cereal crop in the Mediterranean basin area. This cultivar represents a fundamental resource due to its significant role in human nutrition and its importance in the livestock industry. Climate and environmental change endangers the cultivation of key crops, such as durum wheat, influencing the composition and activity of the plant microbiome. Plant microbiome influencing the host’s performance, it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding of its composition. By examining the kernel’s microbiome composition, it is possible to assess the quality of the kernel before planting, identify the presence of species that produce toxic compounds, such as mycotoxins, or, on the other side, of beneficial microbials that can limit pathogen growth. In this way, new strategies to protect both the agricultural market and consumer health could be formulated. To conduct this research a metagenomic analysis through metabarcoding sequencing using Oxford Nanopore Technology was performed. The metagenomic data was matched with metabolomic and agronomic data to find possible correlations among these that would drive us in choosing the best combination of cultivation practices, pedoclimatic conditions and varieties to enhance the presence of biocontrol agents. Regarding this, we performed co-culture assays to individuate potential biocontrol agents within the cultivable microorganisms isolated from durum wheat kernel which can be employed at field level for bio augmenting the capacity of durum wheat to challenge pathogens such as Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium from the FHB complex and Tilletia spp, inter alia.