COMPARISON OF SOIL MICROBIOTA IN WHEAT AND BARLEY CROPS

Agriculture represents a complex interface between plants and their associated microorganisms.In contemporary agriculture, special attention is given to environmentally friendly approaches, particularly in developing countries, to improve system sustainability while minimizing negative effects on the quality and quantity of production.Modern agricultural practices, such as extensive plowing, the use of harmful agrochemicals, and monoculture, have been shown to influence soil microbial community structure and sustainability.The diversity of microorganisms associated with plant roots is immense, numbering in the tens of thousands of species.This highly complex microbial community associated with plants is known as the plant's second genome, playing a crucial role in plant growth, development, and health.This study investigated differences in the abundance, composition, and diversity of microbial communities throughout the growing season in soils collected from fields cultivated with winter wheat and winter barley in the northeastern region of Moldova.The aim of this study was to (i) analyze the seasonal dynamics of microbial communities in the rhizosphere of winter wheat and winter barley and (ii) examine the structural changes occurring within microbial communities during the growing season.The obtained data show minor variations in the total number of bacteria and fungal colonies for wheat and barley during the growing season.Gram-negative bacteria are dominant, and among fungi, Penicillium spp.and Aspergillus spp.are the most common.Barley exhibited a slightly higher microbial diversity compared to wheat.