Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8874-4157
Date Available
8-1-2027
Year of Publication
2025
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
College
Agriculture, Food and Environment
Department/School/Program
Plant and Soil Sciences
Faculty
Kendall Corbin
Faculty
Krista Jacobsen
Abstract
This thesis integrates ecological, agricultural, and evolutionary frameworks to advance our understanding of plant–microbe interactions in horticultural systems, focusing on nutritionally valuable crops. Rhizosphere microbial dynamics of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) were characterized across developmental stages, revealing a significant decrease in microbial diversity at mid-vegetative stages, associated with deterministic enrichment of beneficial taxa (Burkholderia–Caballeronia–Paraburkholderia). Domestication effects were assessed by comparing domesticated Brassica oleracea cultivars (broccoli, kale, collard greens) to their wild relative, Brassica cretica, demonstrating that domestication diminishes the host’s ability to selectively recruit beneficial rhizosphere microbes. Investigations of the phyllosphere microbiome highlighted critical methodological constraints due to overwhelming plant-derived DNA, emphasizing the need for improved techniques to accurately profile microbial communities in low-biomass leaf environments. Lastly, culture-dependent analysis of kale and lettuce established a collection of phyllosphere isolates, identifying taxa with agricultural and potential human health benefits, including probiotic candidates such as Bacillus and Rummeliibacillus. Collectively, these insights provide foundational knowledge for microbiome-informed strategies, emphasizing the potential to leverage beneficial plant–microbe relationships for sustainable agriculture, enhanced crop resilience, improved food safety, and positive impacts on human health.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2025.338
Recommended Citation
Sarver, Easton R., "PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS ACROSS TISSUES AND TIME: RHIZOSPHERE TO EDIBLE MICROBIOMES IN HORTICULTURAL CROPS" (2025). Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences. 192.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/pss_etds/192
