The soil microbiome of the Caatinga drylands in Brazil

Drylands cover a significant portion of the Earth's surface and play a key role in maintaining global ecological balance. The Caatinga, with its unique biodiversity adapted to the extreme conditions of this semi-arid region, offers a valuable opportunity to expand our knowledge about these ecosystems. Here, this work reveals the high microbial diversity in the soil and rhizosphere of the Caatinga, with the roots presenting more specialized communities. Bacteria such as Bacilli, Alphaproteobacteria and Firmicutes excelled in critical functions such as nutrient cycling. The Interplant differences suggested the influence of root exudates. Altogether, the metagenomic study of interactions between microorganisms in the rhizosphere of selected plants revealed microbial biodiversity and contributed to our understanding of nutrient cycling, plant growth and resistance to water stress. In addition, they demonstrate biotechnological potential to address global challenges such as desertification and food security.