This synthesis summarizes current knowledge about the microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and yeasts) living in association with the argan tree and highlights their key roles in the tree’s health and its environment, both in natural settings and nurseries.
The Players in the Argan Tree Microbiome
Bacteria: Some, known as PGPR (Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria), are dominated by the genus Streptomyces. They help the argan tree absorb phosphorus (an essential nutrient) from the soil, regulate its hormones for better growth, combat diseases (biocontrol), and produce useful compounds for industry, such as eco-friendly alternatives to plastics (polyhydroxybutyrate).
Fungal Communities: Dominated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (symbiotic fungi associated with roots), which improve phosphorus absorption and help the tree resist drought. They also include endophytic Ascomycetes, a source of bioactive compounds (antioxidants, antifungals), and entomopathogenic fungi that protect the argan tree from harmful insects (biocontrol).
Yeasts: Although less documented, they may possess unexplored metabolic traits with applications in agro-food processes (texturizers, emulsifiers, flavors) and biotechnology.
The study also emphasizes that the perception of microbial diversity is strongly influenced by both the isolation environment and identification methods, ranging from culture-based techniques to high-throughput sequencing and metagenomics.
It concludes that understanding the argan tree microbiome offers major prospects for the sustainable restoration of argan forests, the development of climate-resilient agriculture, and biotechnological innovation.
Réf. Taqarort N., Sadik S., Bouharroud R. & Qessaoui R. 2026 - Microbial diversity associated with the argan tree and its functional and biotechnological potential. Discover Plants (2026) 3:89 https://doi.org/10.1007/s44372-026-00571-7
Posted by Jean-Paul Peltier.