Harnessing the unique microbiomes of New Zealand’s native plants for stronger, more resilient crops

Most of us are familiar with the idea that the make-up and diversity of our gut microbes have a huge effect on our health. Plants also harbour complex microbial communities, called microbiomes, that contribute to their health and their ability to cope with stresses such as disease. Native plants in Aotearoa New Zealand have microbes specially adapted to our unique environment, which could improve the less complex microbiomes of horticultural crops. However, the benefits of including endemic plants for microbiome-assisted crop production are not well understood and have never been explored in the context of Aotearoa. 

Dr Ehau-Taumaunu (Ngāti Uepōhatu, Ngāti Porou, Te Ātiawa, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) has been awarded a Marsden Fund Fast-Start grant to investigate whether increasing microbial biodiversity using endemic plants can boost crop health and disease resistance, focusing on kiwifruit. Dr Ehau-Taumaunu’s research will look at areas where native forests and kiwifruit orchards meet to understand how these microbe communities interact, and test whether endemic plant microbes can protect kiwifruit plants. This Māori-led research is in collaboration with Māori kiwifruit growers in Te Kaha on the East Coast.

Harnessing microbial diversity has potential economic and environmental benefits, boosting crop health while simultaneously reducing our dependence on chemicals. Could this approach have helped with the devastating outbreak of Psa disease that struck kiwifruit vines in 2010? This research has the potential to position Aotearoa New Zealand as a global leader in sustainable, Indigenous-aligned horticultural innovation.

Te Kaha kiwifruit orchard (photo credit: Nicola Sullivan)