# Editorial: Theme issue on the ecology of soil microorganisms

## TL;DR

Inoculating common bean seeds with diverse bacterial communities changes the seed and seedling microbiota, even in real soil.

## Contribution

Shows how synthetic bacterial communities can alter plant-associated microbiota in natural soil conditions.

## Key findings

- Diversified bacterial communities induce changes in seed microbiota.
- Seedling microbiota is also modified by the synthetic communities.
- Modifications occur even in living potting soil.

## Abstract

Inoculation of common bean seed with diversified bacterial synthetic communities can induce deep modifications of both seed and seedling microbiota, even in living potting soil.