西南喀斯特石漠化环境适生植物构树细根、根际土壤化学计量特征

为了解西南喀斯特石漠化适生植物构树(Broussonetia papyrifera)对贫瘠土壤养分环境的适应策略, 及其细根、根际土壤的化学计量特征对石漠化等级的响应, 该研究以西南喀斯特石漠化环境适生植物构树为研究对象, 运用生态化学计量学方法, 开展不同等级石漠化环境构树细根、根际土壤有机碳(C)、全氮(N)、全磷(P)、全钾(K)、全钙(Ca)及全镁(Mg)养分含量特征及C、N、P化学计量特征研究。结果表明, 除Ca含量外, 喀斯特石漠化环境适生植物构树细根、根际土壤的养分含量均处于较低水平; 细根N:P为12.59, 表明构树生长受N和P共同限制; 随着石漠化等级的增加, 细根C、N含量和C:N、C:P呈先降后升的变化趋势, K、P含量是则表现为先升后降, Ca、Mg含量和N:P无明显变化规律; 不同等级石漠化环境中的构树根际土壤N、P、K、Ca含量呈不同的变化趋势, 而C、Mg含量及C、N、P化学计量特征的变化较不显著; 细根与根际土壤的化学计量特征之间存在显著的相关性, 二者的C、P、Ca、Mg含量、C:N、C:P分别对应呈显著正相关关系, 而N含量呈极显著负相关关系; 细根的K含量则较为稳定, 几乎不受根际土壤养分的影响。     

三峡库区消落带4种适生植物根际与非根际土壤养分与酶活性特征研究

三峡库区消落带植被修复过程中,物种的更替对库区土壤的地球化学循环产生潜在影响。以三峡库区忠县石宝寨汝溪河消落带植被修复示范基地165-170 m海拔段人工种植狗牙根、牛鞭草、落羽杉以及立柳根际与非根际土为试验对象,探究其根际与非根际土壤的养分含量及酶活性差异,以阐明不同物种的生长适应性及其根际养分利用策略,比较不同物种对库区土壤的营养改良作用。结果表明：（1）三峡库区消落带4种适生植物根系活动导致根际与非根际土壤养分因子以及土壤酶活性产生差异,不同物种的栽植均在一定程度上使库区土壤营养条件得以改善;（2）碳、氮两种元素在4种适生植物根际土壤中发生不同程度的富集,但磷素与钾素在不同物种根际与非根际土壤之间的变化不一致;（3）蔗糖酶、脲酶以及酸性磷酸酶在4种适生植物根际土中均表现出一定程度的根际正效应（R/S>1）,且狗牙根对3种土壤酶的根际活化效果最为明显,其根际效应分别高达2.39、1.89和2.7;（4）在植物根系的调控下,根际土中有机质与氮素、磷素以及钾素的相关性更为显著,而非根际土壤中,仅钾素与有效氮、有效磷呈显著负相关,其余各土壤养分因子之间均无显著相关性;（5）与落羽杉和立柳两木本植物相比,狗牙根与牛鞭草两草本植物根际具有更为合理的养分调节模式,对库区土壤的改良效果更好。     

植物根构型的定量分析

植物根系具有锚定植株、吸收和运输土壤中的水分及养分、合成和贮藏营养物质等重要功能。根构型是根系在土壤中的空间造型和分布。对植物根构型进行定量分析,有助于人们了解根系结构和根系功能在生态系统中的重要作用。本文对植物根构型的概念及其定量分析研究进展进行了概述,并介绍了植物根构型的主要研究方法和定量分析技术。     

植物根构型的定量分析

植物根系具有锚定植株、吸收和运输土壤中的水分及养分、合成和贮藏营养物质等重要功能。根构型是根系在土壤中的空间造型和分布。对植物根构型进行定量分析, 有助于人们了解根系结构和根系功能在生态系统中的重要作用。本文对植物根构型的概念及其定量分析研究进展进行了概述, 并介绍了植物根构型的主要研究方法和定量分析技术。     

长白山北坡不同林分类型细根-土壤C、N、P化学计量特征

细根是植物吸收养分和水分的主要器官,也是土壤养分归还的重要途径。研究细根的化学计量特征对了解森林生态系统植物-土壤养分循环具有重要意义。以吉林省八家子林业局蒙古栎天然林、天然阔叶混交林和落叶松人工林中龄林为对象,基于15块30 m×30 m样地的林分调查数据以及细根和土壤样品的测定数据,研究了不同林分类型细根和土壤的C、N、P化学计量特征以及两者的关系。结果表明：不同林分的细根和土壤C、N、P化学计量特征差异显著(P<0.05)。3种林分类型细根均受N限制,天然阔叶混交林土壤养分丰富,但蒙古栎天然林土壤P较贫乏。落叶松人工林和天然阔叶混交林的细根化学计量特征与土壤化学计量特征的相关程度明显高于蒙古栎天然林。3种林分的细根C∶N、C∶P和C含量受土壤化学计量特征影响较大。土壤C∶P是影响3种林分细根化学计量特征的最主要因素。研究结果可为长白山林区蒙古栎天然林、天然阔叶混交林和落叶松人工林的土壤养分管理和森林可持续经营提供一定的理论依据。     

根际微生物调控植物根系构型研究进展

根系构型是最重要的植物形态特征之一,具有可塑性,既由遗传因素控制,又受到许多环境因子的调控。近年的大量研究表明,根际微生物能够调控植物的根系构型,进而影响植物的一系列生理与生态过程。综述丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)、根瘤菌、植物根际促生菌(PGPR)等重要根际微生物类群对植物根系构型的调控模式以及相应的调控机理,并对进一步的研究进行了展望,旨在为今后的相关研究和实际应用提供参考。     

杨树人工林细根数量和形态特征的季节动态及代际差异

采集欧美杨107Ⅰ代和Ⅱ代人工林细根样品,分析杨树不同根序细根数量特征(根长度、表面积和生物量)和形态特征(比根长、根长密度、根组织密度)对季节波动的响应及其代际差异.结果表明： 杨树各根序细根数量特征(根长度、表面积和生物量)均呈明显的季节变化,且具有明显的根序差异性.低级根序细根数量特征季节差异显著,细根生物量在生长季显著增加而生长季后显著下降.高级根序细根比根长季节波动显著,而根长密度和根组织密度等形态特征波动较小.连作导致人工林杨树1～2级细根长度、生物量、比根长和根长密度在生长季显著增大.1级细根数量特征与土壤温湿度呈显著正相关,与土壤有机质和速效氮含量呈显著负相关;而2级细根数量特征仅与土壤养分显著相关.杨树人工林细根特征的季节动态及代际差异体现了杨树对细根的碳投入变化,因连作引发的土壤养分匮乏可能引发植株对根系的碳投入增加,这种碳分配格局与人工林地上部分生产力形成密切相关.     

樟子松林根际与非根际土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征

为揭示呼伦贝尔沙地樟子松根际与非根际土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征,以不同林龄(28、37、46年生)樟子松人工林为研究对象,以樟子松天然林为对照,研究根际与非根际土壤有机碳、全氮和全磷含量及其化学计量比,分析土壤性质与土壤化学计量特征间的相关性。结果表明：在樟子松人工林中,根际效应显著影响土壤N∶P,林龄显著影响土壤有机碳含量;各林龄人工林的土壤有机碳含量均显著低于天然林。人工林的根际与非根际土壤有机碳、全氮含量均随林龄增加先降低再升高;全磷含量在根际土壤中先升高再降低,在非根际土壤中先降低再升高。C∶N与C∶P在根际土壤中呈显著正相关,但在非根际土壤中不存在显著相关关系,说明根际土壤氮磷限制具有更高的协同性。根际与非根际土壤N∶P均值分别为4.98与8.40,表明樟子松人工林的生长受土壤N限制,且根际土壤受N限制程度更高。根际与非根际土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征受土壤性质的显著影响,其中,速效磷是最主要的驱动因子。呼伦贝尔沙地樟子松生长受N限制,其植物根系对土壤养分的富集与维持有明显作用,建议在樟子松生长阶段适当补充土壤氮素,并根据根际土壤氮磷限制的协同性适当补充磷素。     

酚酸和氮素交互作用下欧美杨107细根形态特征

树木细根生长与根际过程的关系十分密切。该研究仿生欧美杨107 (Populus × euramericana ‘Neva’)人工林根际土壤酚酸沉降与氮素有效性变化, 通过设置3种酚酸梯度(0X、0.5X、1.0X, X为田间土壤酚酸含量)与3种氮素水平(缺氮0 mmol·L^-1、正常氮10 mmol·L^-1、高氮20 mmol·L^-1), 探究酚酸和氮素对欧美杨107细根形态的影响, 以期为阐明树木根系生长对根-土界面过程的响应奠定基础。结果表明: (1)在无酚酸(0X)环境中, 缺氮和高氮均可抑制欧美杨107细根生长, 尤其对1-3级细根的影响更为显著。比根长随氮素水平升高逐渐减小, 但其他细根特征并未呈现与氮素水平的线性关系。(2) 0.5X和1.0X酚酸梯度相比, 欧美杨107的1-2级细根直径和体积随酚酸浓度增加而显著增大(p < 0.05)。酚酸和氮素对杨树细根的影响存在交互作用, 1-2级细根直径、体积受酚酸的影响显著, 而4-5级细根长度、表面积受氮素影响显著。双因素方差分析结果表明, 酚酸和氮素对细根形态建成具有协同或拮抗效应。(3)主成分分析(PCA)和冗余分析(RDA)结果表明, 在酚酸和氮素交互效应下, 杨树1-3级、 4级、 5级细根之间具有显著的形态差异。第一主成分主要体现细根觅食性状特征, 可解释细根形态变异的60.9%的信息; 第二主成分主要体现细根形态构建特征, 可解释25.3%的信息。杨树细根形态变化与根序高度相关, N素影响杨树细根形态的主效应较酚酸更强。因此, 根际环境中酚酸累积和氮素有效性变化会影响杨树细根的形态构建和细根对水分、养分的吸收, 而氮素有效性是影响杨树细根生长的重要因素, 开展杨树人工林土壤养分管理是林分生产力长期维持的关键。     

不同植物根际土壤碳氮水解酶活性热点区的空间分布特征

为研究喀斯特退耕地不同植物根际土壤碳氮水解酶活性的空间分布特征,采用喀斯特区域农田表层土壤,选择当地粮食作物玉米、牧草苜蓿及弃耕后常见草本植物莎草,进行室内根盒培养试验。利用根际土壤原位酶谱分析技术,研究不同植物根际与非根际土壤β-葡萄糖苷酶(βG)和N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)活性的分布模式。结果发现:1)3种植物在根尖和根伸长区都存在酶活性热点区,最大根际酶活性热点区范围为苜蓿>莎草>玉米;2)玉米βG和NAG根际酶活性热点范围在根尖与根伸长区范围相近约为1.13 mm,苜蓿根际βG热点区范围是根伸长区(1.98 mm)>根尖(1.19 mm),而NAG热点区范围是根尖(0.91 mm)>根伸长区(0.59 mm),莎草根际βG和NAG活性热点区范围均是根尖(1.38—1.86 mm)>根伸长区(0.93—1.16 mm);3)豆科植物苜蓿的根系和根际微生物偏好碳需求,这可能与豆科植物的固氮功能有关,缓解氮养分需求;而莎草根系和根际微生物偏好氮养分,这与喀斯特土壤氮养分限制有关。总体上,苜蓿根际酶活性热点范围最广,根系和根际微生物偏好碳需求,而且其...     

Fine root architecture, morphology, and biomass of different branch orders of two Chinese temperate tree species

We have limited understanding of architecture and morphology of fine root systems in large woody trees. This study investigated architecture, morphology, and biomass of different fine root branch orders of two temperate tree species from Northeastern China—Larix gmelinii Rupr and Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr —by sampling up to five fine root branch orders three times during the 2003 growing season from two soil depths (i.e., 0–10 and.10–20 cm). Branching ratio (R _b) differed with the level of branching: R _b values from the fifth to the second order of branching were approximately three in both species, but markedly higher for the first two orders of branching, reaching a value of 10.4 for L. gmelinii and 18.6 for F. mandshurica. Fine root diameter, length, SRL and root length density not only had systematic changes with root order, but also varied significantly with season and soil depth. Total biomass per order did not change systematically with branch order. Compared to the second, third and/or fourth order, the first order roots exhibited higher biomass throughout the growing season and soil depths, a pattern related to consistently higher R _b values for the first two orders of branching than the other levels of branching. Moreover, the differences in architecture and morphology across order, season, and soil depth between the two species were consistent with the morphological disparity between gymnosperms and angiosperms reported previously. The results of this study suggest that root architecture and morphology, especially those of the first order roots, should be important for understanding the complexity and multi-functionality of tree fine roots with respect to root nutrient and water uptake, and fine root dynamics in forest ecosystems.     

生姜根系不同生态位细菌群落多样性特征、组成及结构差异

生姜作为常见的调味品和传统中药材,是我国重要的经济作物之一。作为取食部分的生姜块茎与根系直接相连,其产量、品质与根相关细菌群落密切相关。然而,关于生姜根系微环境中细菌群落的特点仍鲜有报道,土壤环境能否衍生出宿主特异性内生菌群落尚不清楚。以生姜根系不同生态位细菌群落为研究对象,采用高通量测序技术,对非根际、根际及根内细菌进行16S rRNA基因测序。结果表明,不同生态位细菌群落多样性存在显著差异,其中非根际及根际细菌群落多样性(Shannon index, Observed species, Faith′s PD)显著高于内生菌群落。同时,各生态位共现网络稳定性和复杂度表现为非根际>根际>根内细菌群落。而在组成上,细菌群落在不同生态位差异显著(R²=0.57,P=0.001)。其中变形菌门(Proteobacteria)是根内的优势门,该门类下假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)、短波单胞菌属(Brevundimonas)、寡养单胞菌属(Stenotrophomonas)及泛菌属(Pantoea)在根内显著富集。在根际细菌中,拟杆菌门(Bacteroid...     

四种不同生活型树种细根寿命及影响因素

以4种不同生活型树种(常绿阔叶和针叶树种、落叶阔叶和针叶树种)为研究对象,通过微根管法现地观测细根的生长动态,比较不同生活型树种细根寿命在种内和种间的差异,探讨影响细根寿命的主要因子,研究结果对理解和预测森林生态系统碳及养分循环过程具有重要的理论意义。结果表明:(1)细根形态特征(分枝结构和直径)显著影响种内细根寿命,分枝等级越低、直径越小,细根的寿命越短;(2)4个树种的细根寿命表现出明显的土层效应和季节效应,即随土壤深度增加,细根的累积存活率逐渐增加,寿命延长;而不同季节出生的细根其寿命长短模式在树种间不一致,春季或夏季出生的细根寿命要长于秋冬季;(3)常绿树种(柳杉、石栎)的细根寿命要长于落叶树种(池杉、麻栎),同时,针叶树种(池杉、柳杉)的细根寿命要长于阔叶树种(麻栎、石栎)。在同一树种内,细根寿命受细根直径、根系分枝结构、土壤环境因子(土层)等因素显著影响,但在不同树种间,细根寿命可能更依赖于树木生长速率、碳分配模式等树木整体的功能性状差异。     

Characterisation of root amino acid exudation in white clover (Trifolium repens L.)

Lateral roots are crucial for the plasticity of root responses to environmental conditions in soil. The bacterivorous microfauna has been shown to increase root branching and to foster auxin producing soil bacteria. However, information on modifications of plant internal auxin content by soil bacteria and bacterivores is missing. Therefore, the effects of a rhizosphere bacterial community and a common soil amoeba (Acanthamoeba castellanii) on root branching and on auxin (indole-3-acetic acid) metabolism in Lepidium sativum and Arabidopsis thaliana were investigated. In a first experimental series, bacteria increased conjugated auxin concentrations in L. sativum shoots, but did not alter free bioactive auxin content nor root branching. In contrast, in presence of soil bacteria plus amoebae free auxin concentrations in shoots and root branching increased, demonstrating that effects of bacteria on auxin metabolism in plants were strongly modified by the bacterivorous amoebae. In a second experiment, A. thaliana reporter plants for auxin (DR5) and cytokinin (ARR5) responded similarly with increased root branching in the presence of amoebae. Surprisingly, in reporter plants cytokinin but not auxin responses were detectable, accompanied by higher soil nitrate concentrations in the presence of amoebae. Likely, increased nitrate concentrations in the rhizosphere led to an accumulation of cytokinin and interactions with free auxin in plants and finally to increased root growth in the presence of amoebae. Altogether, the results show that mutual control mechanisms exist between plant hormone metabolism and microbial signalling, and that effects on hormonal concentrations of plants by free-living bacteria are strongly influenced by bacterial grazers like amoebae.     

Biocontrol: Endophytic bacteria could be crucial to fight soft rot disease in the rare medicinal herb,Anoectochilus roxburghii

Microbial destabilization induced by pathogen infection has severely affected plant quality and output, such as Anoectochilus roxburghii, an economically important herb. Soft rot is the main disease that occurs during A. roxburghii culturing. However, the key members of pathogens and their interplay with non-detrimental microorganisms in diseased plants remain largely unsolved. Here, by utilizing a molecular ecological network approach, the interactions within bacterial communities in endophytic compartments and the surrounding soils during soft rot infection were investigated. Significant differences in bacterial diversity and community composition between healthy and diseased plants were observed, indicating that the endophytic communities were strongly influenced by pathogen invasion. Endophytic stem communities of the diseased plants were primarily derived from roots and the root endophytes were largely derived from rhizosphere soils, which depicts a possible pathogen migration image from soils to roots and finally the stems. Furthermore, interactions among microbial members indicated that pathogen invasion might be aided by positively correlated native microbial members, such as Enterobacter and Microbacterium, who may assist in colonization and multiplication through a mutualistic relationship in roots during the pathogen infection process. Our findings will help open new avenues for developing more accurate strategies for biological control of A. roxburghii bacterial soft rot disease.     

The timing and degree of root proliferation in fertile-soil microsites for three cold-desert perennials

Summary Root proliferation in nutrient-rich soil patches is an important mechanism facilitating nutrient capture by plants. Although the phenomenon of root proliferation is well documented, the specific timing of this proliferation has not been investigated. We studied the timing and degree of root proliferation for three perennial species common to the Great Basin region of North America: a shrub, Artemisia tridentata, a native tussock grass, Agropyron spicatum, and an introduced tussock grass, Agropyron desertorum. One day after we applied nutrient solution to small soil patches, the mean relative growth rate of Agropyron desertorum roots in these soil patches was two to four times greater than for roots of the same plants in soil patches reated with distilled water. Most of the increased root growth came from thin, laterally branching roots within the patches. This rapid and striking root proliferation by Agropyron desertorum occurred in response to N-P-K enrichment as well as to P or N enrichment alone. A less competitive bunchgrass, Agrophyron spicatum, showed no tendency to proliferate roots in enriched soil patches during these two-week experiments. The shrub Artemisia tridentata proliferated roots within one day of initial solution injection in the N-enrichment experiment, but root proliferation of this species was more gradual and less consistent in the N-P-K and P-enrichment experiments, respectively. The ability of Agropyron desertorum to proliferate roots rapidly may partly explain both its general competitive success and its superior ability to exploit soil nutrients compared to Agropyron spicatum in Great Basin rangelands of North America.     

黄河三角洲滨海盐碱地11个造林树种细根解剖性状对土壤条件的响应

细根作为植物与土壤连接的重要部位,能够反映植物对生存环境的适应性。以黄河三角洲滨海盐碱地不同立地条件下11个造林树种为对象,基于细根分支等级划分1-4级根序并进行解剖特征测定,分析细根解剖性状对滨海盐碱地不同土壤条件的响应规律。结果表明：（1）不同根序的细根直径存在显著差异,细根直径随根序升高呈增大趋势,而同根序的细根直径在不同树种间表现出显著的种间差异（P < 0.05）。1-2级细根皮层厚度、3-4级细根导管密度在树种间的差异均达显著水平（P < 0.05）。（2）在较为严重盐渍化土壤条件下（立地1）,细根皮层厚度较其他立地显著增大,但细根导管密度较小;在轻度盐碱立地条件下（立地3）,细根导管密度较大;较为严重的盐碱立地具有更为发达的细根直径及维管柱直径。（3）树种1-2级细根解剖结构与土壤环境关系最为密切,其中1级根直径与土壤pH值显著正相关（P < 0.05）,与土壤硝态氮含量呈显著负相关（P < 0.05）。对土壤理化性质与细根解剖性状的冗余分析表明,前两个轴的特征值达0.640和0.196,土壤速效养分含量与轴一（RDA1）呈正相关,低级根解剖性状则与轴二（RDA2）呈显著负相关。低级根解剖结构以及土壤的pH值能解释较多树种的差异性,其中低级根直径与皮层厚度对盐碱环境表现出较强的响应。     

A root hairless barley mutant for elucidating genetic of root hairs and phosphorus uptake

This paper reports a new barley mutant missing root hairs. The mutant was spontaneously discovered among the population of wild type (Pallas, a spring barley cultivar), producing normal, 0.8 mm long root hairs. We have called the mutant bald root barley (brb). Root anatomical studies confirmed the lack of root hairs on mutant roots. Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) analyses of the genomes of the mutant and Pallas supported that the brb mutant has its genetic background in Pallas. The segregation ratio of selfed F₂ plants, resulting from mutant and Pallas outcross, was 1:3 (–root hairs:+root hairs), suggesting a monogenic recessive mode of inheritance.In rhizosphere studies, Pallas absorbed nearly two times more phosphorus (P) than the mutant. Most of available inorganic P in the root hair zone (0.8 mm) of Pallas was depleted, as indicated by the uniform P depletion profile near its roots. The acid phosphatase (Apase) activity near the roots of Pallas was higher and Pallas mobilised more organic P in the rhizosphere than the mutant. The higher Apase activity near Pallas roots also suggests a link between root hair formation and rhizosphere Apase activity. Hence, root hairs are important for increasing plant P uptake of inorganic as well as mobilisation of organic P in soils.Laboratory, pot and field studies showed that barley cultivars with longer root hairs (1.10 mm), extracted more P from rhizosphere soil, absorbed more P in low-P field (Olsen P=14 mg P kg^–1 soil), and produced more shoot biomass than shorter root hair cultivars (0.63 mm). Especially in low-P soil, the differences in root hair length and P uptake among the cultivars were significantly larger. Based on the results, the perspectives of genetic analysis of root hairs and their importance in P uptake and field performance of cereals are discussed.     

Upscaling from Rhizosphere to Whole Root System: Modelling the Effects of Phospholipid Surfactants on Water and Nutrient Uptake

While the rhizosphere presents a different chemical, physical and biological environment to bulk soil, most experimental and modelling investigations of plant growth and productivity are based on bulk soil parameters. In this study, water and nutrient acquisition by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) roots was investigated using rhizosphere- and root-system-scale modelling. The physical and chemical properties of rhizosphere soil could be influenced by phospholipid surfactants in the root mucilage. Two models were compared: a 2-dimensional (2D) Finite Element Method rhizosphere model, and a 3-dimensional (3D) root architecture model, ROOTMAP. ROOTMAP was parameterised to reproduce the results of the detailed 2D model, and was modified to include a rhizosphere soil volume. Lecithin (a phospholipid surfactant) could be exuded into the rhizosphere soil volume, decreasing soil water content and hydraulic conductivity at any given soil water potential, and decreasing phosphate adsorption to soil particles. The rhizosphere-scale modelling (5 × 5 mm² soil area, 10 mm root length, uptake over 12 h) predicted a reduction in water uptake (up to 16% at 30 kPa) and an increase in phosphate uptake (up to 4%) with lecithin exudation into the rhizosphere, but little effect on nitrate uptake, with only a small reduction in dry soil (1.6% at 200 kPa). The 3D root model reproduced the water (y = 1.013x, R² = 0.996), nitrate (y = 1x, R² = 1) and phosphate (y = 0.978x, R² = 0.998) uptake predictions of the rhizosphere model, providing confidence that a whole root system model could reproduce the dynamics simulated by a Finite Element Method rhizosphere model. The 3D root architecture model was then used to scale-up the rhizosphere dynamics, simulating the effect of lecithin exudation on water, nitrate and phosphate acquisition by a wheat root system, growing over 41 d. When applied to growing and responsive roots, lecithin exudation increased P acquisition by up to 13% in nutrient-rich, and 49% in relatively nutrient-poor soil. A comparison of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) root architectures, suggested an interaction between the P acquisition benefit of rhizosphere lecithin and root architecture, with the more highly-branched wheat root structure acquiring relatively more P in the presence of lecithin than the sparsely-branched lupin root system.     

Analogous wheat root rhizosphere microbial successions in field and greenhouse trials in the presence of biocontrol agents Paenibacillus peoriae SP9 and Streptomyces fulvissimus FU14

Two Pythium-infested soils were used to compare the wheat root and rhizosphere soil microbial communities from plants grown in the field or in greenhouse trials and their stability in the presence of biocontrol agents. Bacteria showed the highest diversity at early stages of wheat growth in both field and greenhouse trials, while fungal diversity increased later on, at 12 weeks of the crop cycle. The microbial communities were stable in roots and rhizosphere samples across both soil types used in this study. Such stability was also observed irrespective of the cultivation system (field or greenhouse) or addition of biocontrol coatings to wheat seeds to control Pythium disease (in this study soil infected with Pythium sp. clade F was tested). In greenhouse plant roots, Archaeorhizomyces, Debaryomyces, Delftia, and unclassified Pseudeurotiaceae were significantly reduced when compared to plant roots obtained from the field trials. Some operational taxonomic units (OTUs) represented genetic determinants clearly transmitted vertically by seed endophytes (specific OTUs were found in plant roots) and the plant microbiota was enriched over time by OTUs from the rhizosphere soil. This study provided key information regarding the microbial communities associated with wheat roots and rhizosphere soils at different stages of plant growth and the role that Paenibacillus and Streptomyces strains play as biocontrol agents in supporting plant growth in infested soils.