Impacts of Host Genotype and Grafting on Root, Rhizosphere, and Core Microbiomes in Theobroma cacao Seedlings

Recent advances in understanding microbial contributions to plant growth and soil health have sparked interest in breeding plants that cultivate a beneficial microbiome. However, optimizing phytobiomes requires knowledge of the genetic architecture of host influence on the associated microbiome, and this knowledge is particularly lacking in perennial crops such as Theobroma cacao. Grafting adds an additional layer of complexity. What are the relative impacts of rootstock and scion on the root and rhizosphere microbiomes?