Microbial bioindicators associated with cadmium uptake in sixteen genotypes of Theobroma cacao.

ABSTRACT: Recent regulatory limits on concentrations of cadmium (Cd), an element of concern for human health, have made Cd reduction a key issue in the global chocolate industry. Research into Cd minimization has investigated soil management, cacao genetic variation, and postharvest processing, but has overlooked the cacao-associated microbiome despite promising evidence in other crops that root-associated microorganisms could help reduce Cd uptake. A novel approach combining both amplicon and metagenomic sequencing identified microbial bioindicators associated with leaf and stem Cd accumulation in sixteen field-grown genotypes of Theobroma cacao. Sequencing highlighted over 200 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) whose relative abundance was related to cacao leaf and stem Cd content or concent

SUBMITTER: Schmidt JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11783012 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature