Microbial Genes of Agricultural Importance in Maize Rhizosphere Unveiled Through Shotgun Metagenomics

Genes possessed by microbes in the rhizosphere influence metabolic activities that occur this zone. Although maize has been reported to be a hotspot of genes, these genes remain under-investigated. Hence, study aimed at identifying putative microbial with plant beneficial functions underexplored microbiome using shotgun metagenomics approach. Sampling was done flowering stage plants and both bulk soils were collected triplicates. The metagenomes examined revealed involved carbon fixation, nitrogen iron acquisition, heat cold shock, phosphorus solubilization utilization, sulfur cycling, siderophore production. beta diversity analysis showed significant variations ( p < 0.05) across which further confirmed distinct separations between samples as seen on principal coordinate (PCoA) plot. Contrarily, no difference observed within habitats = 0.99). predominance agricultural importance such nifH , nifA, groES, cspA signifies region is endowed organisms potential for improving growth, mitigating stress, reducing effect extreme temperatures, can optimized developing biofertilizers. Therefore, development strategies will help cultivating organisms, are mostly unculturable, encouraged. This would make them readily available use bio-inoculants other biotechnological applications.