Resumen
- Composting is largely driven and mediated by microorganisms interacting with abiotic factors. However, until recently our knowledge of compost microbes has been heavily informed by culture-dependent methods that capture <1% of microorganisms involved in composting. This suggests that challenges related to optimizing the process of composting and the effectiveness of its products may be due to a partial understanding of microbial community structure, diversity, and function. Recent advances in molecular biology, bioinformatics, and sequencing technologies have presented opportunities to gain unprecedented insights into the microbiology of compost and compost tea by using “-omics” approaches. This chapter summarizes research aimed at better understanding the microbiology and effect of compost and compost tea using -omics approaches (genomics, metagenomics, metaproteomics, metaprotegenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metabolomics). Reference to findings from metaprofiling work done using genetic fingerprinting and culture-dependent techniques are made when necessary. To this end, a systematic framework that facilitates data integration and analysis from multi-omics and culture-dependent approaches are recommended to continue improving our knowledge of compost microbes.