{"id":7816,"date":"2026-03-03T15:16:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T13:16:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/cib\/?p=7816"},"modified":"2026-03-03T15:20:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T13:20:00","slug":"evolution-in-overdrive-seed-borne-microbes-supercharge-plant-invasiveness-in-just-five-generations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/cib\/evolution-in-overdrive-seed-borne-microbes-supercharge-plant-invasiveness-in-just-five-generations\/","title":{"rendered":"Evolution in overdrive: Seed-borne microbes supercharge plant invasiveness in just five generations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Invasive plants are a multi-billion dollar threat to global biodiversity hotspots.<\/p>\n

A global consortium of researchers, including Prof Dave Richardson from Stellenbosch University\u2019s Department of Botany & Zoology and the Centre for Invasion Biology, sought new insights on the factors that make the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale<\/em>) so successful in such a wide variety of habitats worldwide. Dandelions are a major weed in pastures, hay crops, and nurseries, and a troublesome weed of lawns, sports fields and gardens.<\/p>\n

By studying dandelions across five continents over five generations, the team found that the ‘seed-borne endomicrobiome’ (SBE) is an important ingredient in the success of this superweed. The SBE is a hidden community of beneficial bacteria and fungi that live inside the plant\u2019s healthy tissues and are passed from parent to offspring through their seeds. The research found that these internal microbes act like a biological ‘supercharger’.<\/p>\n

Plants with their natural microbes developed faster, produced more seeds, and were significantly more competitive than those without them. Crucially, these microscopic partners help the dandelion launch chemical warfare, triggering the release of toxins into the soil that stifle the growth of native species, thereby allowing them to proliferate and exacerbating their impacts.<\/p>\n

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications<\/em><\/a>, shows this microbial advantage evolves rapidly, strengthening over just a few years. This discovery offers a revolutionary path for environmental protection: instead of relying on harsh herbicides like glyphosate, we may eventually be able to stop or slow some invasive plants by manipulating their internal microbial allies. By understanding this ‘silent partner’, researchers hope to better protect the world\u2019s most vulnerable ecosystems.<\/p>\n

Read the paper in Nature Communications<\/em><\/a><\/h4>\n

Molina-Montenegro, M.A., Acu\u00f1a-Rodr\u00edguez, I.S., Atala, C.\u00a0et al.<\/i>\u00a0The endomicrobiome and weed invasiveness in Mediterranean ecosystems worldwide.\u00a0Nat Commun<\/i>\u00a0(2026). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41467-026-68826-1<\/a><\/p>\n

For more information, contact Prof Dave Richardson at rich@sun.ac.za<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Evolution in overdrive: Seed-borne microbes supercharge plant invasiveness in just five 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