Tomato Metatranscriptome, Biochar-Amended Rhizosphere
We characterized the effects of biochar-based soil amendment in conjunction with an organic fertilizer regime on tomato growth, soil microbial diversity, and rhizosphere-level gene expression responses. Shoot fresh biomass and fruit yield of organically grown tomatoes were assessed in a time course following biochar amendment, and the corresponding genomic response of the roots, the soil microbial community profiles, and the active transcripts within the communities were quantified using a metatranscriptomic approach.