while methods such as qRT-PCR and RNA sequencing can supply information on the active growth of
different microbes and whether specific functional genes are being expressed. Such modern techniques can be used in promoting crop production practices that enhance PGP activity in the soil, reducing nutrient removal (e.g. denitrification) and suppressing pathogen virulence. Natural disease suppressive soils, where disease suppression is due to biological factors, can give clues as to the structure of microbial communities associated with disease suppression.