Bacterial community structure associated with the rhizosphere soils and roots of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stellera chamaejasme</Emphasis> L. along a Tibetan elevation gradient

The effect of altitude on the composition and diversity of microbial communities have attracted highly attention recently but is still poorly understood. We used 16S rRNA gene clone library analyses to characterize the bacterial communities from the rhizosphere and roots of Stellera chamaejasme in the Tibetan Plateau. Our results revealed that Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were dominant bacteria in this medicinal plant in the rhizosphere and root communities. The Shannon diversity index showed that the bacterial diversity of rhizosphere follows a small saddle pattern, while the roots possesses of a hump-backed trend. Significant differences in the composition of bacterial communities between rhizosphere and roots were detected based on multiple comparisons analysis. The community of Actinobacteria was found to be significantly negative correlated with soil available P (p?<?0.01), while the phylum of Proteobacteria showed a positive relationship with available P (p?<?0.05). Moreover, redundancy analysis indicated that soil phosphorus, pH, latitude, elevation and potassium positively correlated with bacterial communities associated with rhizosphere soils. Taken together, we provide evidence that bacterial communities associated with S. chamaejasme exhibited some certain elevational pattern, and bacterial communities of rhizosphere soil were regulated by environmental characteristics along elevational gradients in this alpine ecosystem.     

Characterization of rhizosphere and endophytic bacterial communities from leaves,stems and roots of medicinal Stellera chamaejasme L.

A diverse array of bacteria that inhabit the rhizosphere and different plant organs play a crucial role in plant health and growth. Therefore, a general understanding of these bacterial communities and their diversity is necessary. Using the 16S rRNA gene clone library technique, the bacterial community structure and diversity of the rhizosphere and endophytic bacteria in Stellera chamaejasme compartments were compared and clarified for the first time. Grouping of the sequences obtained showed that members of the Proteobacteria (43.2%), Firmicutes (36.5%) and Actinobacteria (14.1%) were dominant in both samples. Other groups that were consistently found, albeit at lower abundance, were Bacteroidetes (2.1%), Chloroflexi (1.9%), and Cyanobacteria (1.7%). The habitats (rhizosphere vs endophytes) and organs (leaf, stem and root) structured the community, since the Wilcoxon signed rank test indicated that more varied bacteria inhabited the rhizosphere compared to the organs of the plant. In addition, correspondence analysis also showed that differences were apparent in the bacterial communities associated with these distinct habitats. Moreover, principal component analysis revealed that the profiles obtained from the rhizosphere and roots were similar, whereas leaf and stem samples clustered together on the opposite side of the plot from the rhizosphere and roots. Taken together, these results suggested that, although the communities associated with the rhizosphere and organs shared some bacterial species, the associated communities differed in structure and diversity.     

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...     

茶园根际土壤细菌群落结构及多样性

【背景】茶园根际土壤的细菌群落结构与茶园生境土壤营养循环密切相关,其组成及多样性可以作为健康茶园的一个生物指标。【方法】采用PCR．变性梯度凝胶电泳（PCR—DGGE）分子指纹图谱技术,检测安溪铁观音种植区不同海拔茶园根际土壤样本的细菌群落结构,利用Shannon．Wiener多样性指数分析其多样性,采用非加权组平均法进行聚类分析得到其分布特征,利用蒙特卡罗检验和冗余分析分别揭示影响细菌群落分布的环境因子及细菌群落分布和环境变量之间的关系。【结果】茶园根际土壤细菌的DGGE结果显示,检测到的14种主要细菌中有11种细菌是不可培养的,3种细菌是可培养的,分别属于根瘤菌属、中华根瘤菌属和苍白杆菌属。聚类分析得到,同一海拔梯度茶园根际土壤细菌群落结构相似。Shan-non—Wiener多样性指数分析表明,400m海拔处茶园根际土壤细菌群落多样性最高。蒙特卡罗检验分析得到环境因子协同作用对茶园根际土壤细菌群落结构贡献率为59．6％。冗余分析显示,茶园根际土壤细菌群落结构与海拔密切相关。【结论与意义】茶园根际土壤细菌群落结构分布与海拔梯度密切相关,考虑不同海拔高度土壤细菌群落对茶园营养循环的影响,在铁观音的健康栽培和管理过程中具有重要意义。     

短时间尺度雄安新区旱柳根际土壤细菌群落特征分析

土壤细菌在土壤生态过程中发挥重要作用,明确雄安新区“千年秀林”植物根际土壤细菌群落组成和多样性,有助于揭示土壤微生物与环境因子的互作关系,为新区森林生态系统可持续发展提供理论支持。以雄安新区重要乡土树种——旱柳(Salix matsudana)为对象,利用高通量测序和生物信息学技术,系统研究基于短时间尺度“千年秀林”旱柳根际土壤细菌群落组成和多样性,并分析菌群和环境因子的互作关系。结果表明,放线菌门、变形菌门和鞘氨醇杆菌属、黄杆菌、固氮菌属等富营养细菌占优势。8月和10月土壤样品中不同菌门相对丰度变化较小,9月波动较大。采样时间与Chao1和PD指数显著相关(P=0.0315,P=0.0137),与Shannon指数相关性不显著(P=0.631),日最高/低气温可显著影响PD指数,且日最低气温升高可显著降低细菌群落的丰富度。Beta多样性在每周时间尺度差异不显著(P=0.363),每两周差异显著(P=0.027),每三周差异极显著(P=0.006)。土壤偏碱性,养分含量差异不显著,全氮平均含量为中上等级,全磷和全钾平均含量处于中下等级。共现性网络互作关系中,协同作用多于拮抗作用。研究结...     

典型农田土壤中丛枝菌根真菌-根际细菌互作及与氮磷利用的关系

在农业生态系统中,土壤微生物是土壤-作物系统养分循环的重要驱动力,其中丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscularmycorrhizalfungi,AMF)能够促进作物对养分的吸收,适应逆境胁迫。【目的】进一步揭示AMF和根际细菌群落的跨界网络互作,挖掘与作物氮磷利用显著相关的关键微生物类群,揭示关键类群的生态网络特征。【方法】利用Illumina测序技术对3种典型农田旱地土壤(黑土、潮土和红壤)中AMF和根际细菌群落结构进行分析;构建互作网络并利用偏冗余分析、相关性分析探究了与氮磷利用相关的潜在关键类群。【结果】3种土壤中AMF与根际细菌均以正相互作用为主。不同土壤中AMF与根际细菌互作关系差异明显,在红壤中跨界互作最为密切,其中球囊霉属真菌(Glomus)与根际细菌中的放线菌(Actinobacteria)和变形菌(Proteobacteria)之间的交互作用最多。而在黑土中主要体现为根际细菌的界内互作。与氮磷利用率显著相关的关键微生物类群主要属于球囊霉属真菌、放线菌和α变形菌。【结论】典型旱地土壤中AMF与根际细菌的正相互关系对作物氮磷利用有潜在促进作用,关键类群在有机质和养分贫乏的红壤中可能起到更重要的作用。     

沙棘通过自主选择塑造根瘤内生微生物组

【背景】解析植物微生物群落结构是利用微生物组工程强化植物抗生物和非生物胁迫水平、提高农林产品质量和品质的基础。固氮根瘤是沙棘具有抗旱、抗寒和抗贫瘠等多种优良生物性状的关键。【目的】比较分析沙棘根际土和根瘤内细菌群落结构的组成及影响因素,为揭示沙棘-弗兰克氏菌共生和植物-微生物互作协同抗逆机制提供理论基础。【方法】从辽宁、陕西和山西采集样品,通过16SrRNA基因V3–V4可变区的高通量测序技术,采用生物信息学方法比较分析沙棘根际土和根瘤内细菌群落组成和丰度差异,并探索土壤土理化性质对根际土细菌群落结构的影响。【结果】沙棘根际土和根瘤内的细菌群落均以放线菌门(Actinobacteria)和变形菌门(Proteobacteria)为主要优势菌门,且根瘤内弗兰克氏菌属(Frankia)为绝对优势菌属;根际土前10个优势菌门的丰度在三地样品间均存在显著差异,仅存在唯一共有的优势菌属(鞘氨醇单胞菌属,Sphingomonas),且前35个优势属中有27个属在三地间存在明显丰度差异;土壤pH和速效钾是沙棘根际土细菌群落多样性的主要影响因子;根瘤内优势门和属在三省份间存在高度的保守性,仅异根瘤菌属...     

不同品种酿酒葡萄根围、叶围微生物群落结构特点解析

【目的】了解不同品种酿酒葡萄根围、叶围细菌群落结构。【方法】以不同品种酿酒葡萄根围、叶围样品为分析材料,采用末端限制性片段长度多态性(T-RFLP)技术研究根围、叶围细菌群落结构,并对细菌群落多样性进行分析。【结果】不同品种葡萄根围微生物优势菌群为变形菌门,不同品种葡萄叶围微生物优势菌群为放线菌目。根围Simpson指数大小顺序为白福尔琼瑶浆白诗南赛美蓉白玉霓米勒长相思,Shannon指数与Simpson指数基本保持一致。叶围Simpson指数最大的为白诗南,最小的为米勒,与Shannon指数基本吻合。【结论】葡萄细菌群落结构综合多样性指数和品种以及定殖部位密切相关。     

Effects of climatic and edaphic factors on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere of Hippophae rhamnoides in the Loess Plateau, China

In order to investigate the effects of climatic and edaphic factors on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in the rhizosphere of Hippophae rhamnoides in the Loess Plateau, spore density, mycorrhizal colonization and gene diversity were analyzed by using the methods of microscopy and polymerase chain reactiondenaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) respectively. The results showed that H. rhamnoides could form strong symbiotic relationships with AM fungi. There existed obvious differences in AM fungal colonization among five sampling sites in the Loess Plateau (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that AM fungal colonization and spore density were closely related with climatic and edaphic factors. 42 different species (band types) were found in the DGGE gel. Based on analysing the position and intensity of AM fungal DGGE bands, the gene diversity indices, including species richness, evenness, Simpsom’s and Shannon-Weiner index, showed significant differences among five sampling sites (P < 0.05). All the AM species could be classified into four groups in the biplot of canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), and each group had various responses to climatic and edaphic factors. Monte Carlo random test indicated that soil available phosphorus (F = 2.26, P = 0.025) and spore density (F = 1.76, P = 0.006) were the dominating factors affecting AM fungal communities. In conclusion, AM fungal colonization and community diversity in the rhizosphere of H. rhamnoides showed obvious spatial heterogeneity among the different areas of the Loess Plateau, and climatic and edaphic conditions were important factors affecting the AM fungal communities. Therefore, screening and application of AM fungal strains in the Loess Plateau need to fully consider the local climatic and edaphic conditions.     

内蒙古大青山灌木铁线莲根围丛枝菌根真菌群落季节动态研究

采用Illumina MiSeq测序技术研究了内蒙古大青山干旱阳坡灌木铁线莲(Clematis fruticosa)根围丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)群落的季节动态,并利用冗余分析(redundancy analysis,RDA)和Mantel test分析了土壤和植被因子与AMF之间的关系,为进一步探索灌木铁线莲-AMF共生体对不同季节环境变化的响应提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)灌木铁线莲根围AMF孢子密度不存在显著的季节性差异,根系侵染率和丛枝丰度从春季至秋季呈下降趋势。(2)3个季节共检测出163个AMF OTUs(operational taxonomic units),春季、夏季、秋季分别为116OTUs、76OTUs和70OTUs。(3)夏季和秋季的AMF丰富度(实测OTUs数和Chao1指数)以及多样性(Shannon-Wiener指数和Invsimpson指数)显著低于春季,但夏、秋季间无显著异。(4)主成分分析和PERMANOVA分析表明,夏季和秋季的AMF群落组成与春季存在显著差异,而AMF群落组成在夏季与秋季间差异不显著。(5)RDA分析表明,采样季节、植被盖度、植物多样性、土壤含水量和土壤有机质对AMF ShannonWiener指数、Invsimpson指数、Chao1指数和实测OTUs数均产生显著影响;Mantel test分析发现,采样季节是影响AMF群落组成和菌根侵染率的主导因子,但对孢子密度无显著影响,而土壤有机质是影响孢子密度的主导因子。     

呼和浩特市大青山白桦根际土壤细菌群落结构研究

采用高通量测序技术对天然次生林生态系统演替过程中先锋树种白桦的根际土壤细菌多样性及群落结构进行了分析。研究结果表明:白桦根际土壤细菌隶属于28门、90纲、126目、213科、286属,在3个采样地中排名前8的优势细菌门的相对丰度均大于1%,分别为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、芽单胞菌门(Gemmatimonadetes)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)、硝化螺旋菌门(Nitrospirae)、疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobia)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)。各样地中前3个门的相对丰度之和均在60%以上。对白桦根际土壤细菌的α多样性指数、门水平的聚类热图以及PCoA聚类结果的分析表明,3个采样地中,小井沟(B2)和哈达门森林公园(C2)白桦根际土壤细菌的物种组成更为接近,与井儿梁(A2)的物种组成有一定差异;且小井沟和哈达门森林公园的物种多样性及丰度(ACE指数)显著高于井儿梁,表明细菌对不同环境的适应能力有明显差异。对细菌群落结构与土壤理化性质的RDA分析及相关性分析表明,环境因子对白桦根际土壤细菌的影响顺序为:全氮TN酸碱度pH含水量WC速效钾AK硝态氮NN铵态氮AN有机质OM有效磷EP,其中,TN、pH和WC是白桦根际土壤优势细菌的主要影响因子。研究结果为深入认识森林生态系统中根际土壤细菌的群落结构和影响因子提供了理论依据。     

连作花魔芋软腐病株与健株根域丛枝菌根真菌群落多样性

【目的】解析不同连作年限花魔芋软腐病株、健株根域的丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)群落多样性。【方法】使用AMF 18S SSU rRNA基因特异引物AMV4.5NF/AMDGR对正茬及连作2年和3年的软腐病株、健株魔芋根系和根际土壤DNA扩增建库,通过高通量测序和生物信息学分析探究魔芋软腐病与其根域AMF群落多样性的关系。【结果】魔芋根系具有明显的AMF菌丝、泡囊和丛枝等结构。在相同连作年限条件下,健株根系AMF总侵染率、侵染强度和孢子密度均显著高于病株(P<0.05);在不同连作年限条件下,病株根系AMF总侵染率和侵染强度随连作年限延长而降低。从所有样品中共鉴定到9属53种AMF,其中有49个已知种和4个新种。球囊霉属(Glomus)和类球囊霉属(Claroideoglomus)是AMF群落的优势属,其AMF种分别占总AMF种数的41.5%和26.4%;丰度最高的Paraglomus sp.VTX00308是所有样品的共有种。连作、软腐病及二者的交互作用显著影响根系AMF群落的Shannon指数和Simpson指数及根际土壤AMF的Chao1指数(P<0.05)。通过丰度差异分析发现6个在连作软腐病发生后丰度差异显著的AMF种(P<0.05);NMDS分析表明,不同连作年限的魔芋软腐病株与健株之间的根域AMF菌种组成、相对丰度和群落结构存在差异。相关性分析表明,软腐病发病率和病情指数与魔芋根系和根际土壤AMF的Shannon指数、根系AMF的Chao1和Simpson指数以及AMF总侵染率、侵染强度和孢子密度极显著负相关(P<0.01)。【结论】比对健株,连作魔芋软腐病株根际土壤AMF孢子密度以及根系AMF侵染率、种数和多样性均降低,其群落结构显著改变。     

贵州煤矸石山香根草根系及根际土丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)群落的季节动态研究

以煤矸石山种植年限为17年的香根草Vetiveria zizanioides为研究对象,采用高通量测序技术研究香根草根系及根际土丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)群落的季节动态.并利用Spearman、NMDS、RDA和Mantel-test等统计学方法分析了 AMF孢子密...     

Rhizosphere effect and fine-root morphological adaptations in a chronosequence of silver birch stands on reclaimed oil shale post-mining areas

Mining activities create wastelands that require reclamation. The relief of abandoned opencast oil shale mining area is rugged, and the mining spoil is extremely stony and alkaline (pH 8), with low N and organic content. Planting of fast-growing deciduous tree species such as silver birch (Betula pendula) on post-mining area is the best means to accelerate the development of a new forest ecosystem in such harsh conditions. A chronosequence of silver birch stands (1, 2, 3, 5, 29, 40 years old) was investigated to reveal changes in bulk soil (S) and rhizosphere (R) properties, in rhizosphere effect on bacterial activity and diversity, and in fine-root morphological adaptations in relation to stand development. The rhizosphere effect on bacterial activity was measured as a rhizosphere/soil (R/S) ratio and on species diversity as a similarity (%) between rhizosphere and bulk soil bacterial communities. Bacterial species diversity was determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) technique and was expressed as Shannon diversity index. Biolog EcoPlates were used to determine the summed activity of cultivable bacteria in rhizosphere and bulk soil. Short-root morphological parameters were measured using WinRHIZO™ Pro.Soil pH and available P concentration decreased logarithmically, and N% and organic matter concentration increased linearly with increasing stand age. During the first 30 years of stand development SIR increased an order, from 0.18 to 1.90 mg C g⁻¹. Bulk soil bacterial diversity increased logarithmically with stand age. The bacterial diversity was higher in rhizosphere than in bulk soil. Rhizosphere effect on bacterial activity was low a year after planting, increased more than two times in the next 2 years, and decreased thereafter rapidly with stand age. Rhizosphere effect, indicating plant support to rhizosphere microbial communities, was highest when soil conditions were still poor, but trees had already overcome the transplant shock. All short-root morphological parameters showed certain trends with age. Specific short-root length varied between 56 and 313 m g⁻¹ and decreased logarithmically with stand age and soil improvement. The fastest changes in short-root morphology, rhizosphere effect, and soil pH occurred during the early development of silver birch stands - in the first 5 years; P nutrition and N use efficiency improved simultaneously. Rhizosphere effect and short-root morphological adaptation have an important role in soil and stand development on oil shale post-mining area, and silver birch is a promising tree species for reclamation of alkaline mining spoil.     

Analysis of bacterial communities in rhizosphere soil of continuously cropped healthy and diseased konjac

The bacterial community and diversity in healthy and diseased konjac rhizosphere soils with different ages of continuous cropping were investigated using next-generation sequencing. The results demonstrated that the number of years of continuous cropping significantly altered soil bacterial community and diversity. Soil bacterial Shannon diversity index and Chao 1 index decreased with the increasing cropping years of konjac. After 1 year of cropping, the soil exhibited the highest bacterial relative abundance and diversity. Of the 44 bacterial genera (relative abundance ratio of genera greater than 0.3%), 14 were significantly affected by the duration of continuous cropping and plant status. With increasing continuous cropping, Alicyclobacillus decreased, while Achromobacter, Lactobacillus, Kaistobacter, Rhodoplanes increased after 3 years continuous cropping. Continuous cropping altered the structure and composition of the soil bacterial community, which led to the reduction in the beneficial bacteria and multiplication of harmful bacteria. These results will improve our understanding of soil microbial community regulation and soil health maintenance in konjac farm systems.     

枯草芽孢杆菌菌剂对烟草根际土壤细菌群落的影响

通过构建16S rRNA克隆文库及采用核糖体DNA扩增片段酶切分析(ARDRA)的方法,研究施用生物防治剂枯草芽孢杆菌菌剂对烟草根际土壤细菌群落结构以及多样性的影响.采用文库库容值(C)、Shannon多样性指数(H)、Pielou 均匀度指数(E)和Margalef丰富度指数(R)对细菌多样性进行评价.系统发育分析表明: 对照及处理样品均检测到12个细菌类群：酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)、变形菌门(α 、β 、δ 、γ-Proteobacteria)、浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、硝化螺旋菌门(Nitrospirae)、芽单胞菌门(Gemmatimonadetes)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes);但各细菌类群的结构组成及所占比例在不同样品间有较大差别.对照土壤中优势菌群为Acidobacteria(27.1%)和Proteobacteria(26.5%);处理土壤中则为Proteobacteria(38.0%)和Acidobacteria(29.6%);菌剂处理后土壤中,γ-Proteobacteria和α Proteobacteria所占比例明显提高,而β Proteobacteria、Planctomycetes和Firmicutes等菌群的数量则相对降低.多样性分析表明,土壤样品均具有丰富的细菌多样性,经枯草芽孢杆菌菌剂处理后,土壤细菌多样性指数和丰富度指数均提高.
     

Huanglongbing alters the structure and functional diversity of microbial communities associated with citrus rhizosphere

The diversity and stability of bacterial communities present in the rhizosphere heavily influence soil and plant quality and ecosystem sustainability. The goal of this study is to understand how ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus'' (known to cause Huanglongbing, HLB) influences the structure and functional potential of microbial communities associated with the citrus rhizosphere. Clone library sequencing and taxon/group-specific quantitative real-time PCR results showed that ‘Ca. L. asiaticus'' infection restructured the native microbial community associated with citrus rhizosphere. Within the bacterial community, phylum Proteobacteria with various genera typically known as successful rhizosphere colonizers were significantly greater in clone libraries from healthy samples, whereas phylum Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes, typically more dominant in the bulk soil were higher in ‘Ca. L. asiaticus''-infected samples. A comprehensive functional microarray GeoChip 3.0 was used to determine the effects of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus'' infection on the functional diversity of rhizosphere microbial communities. GeoChip analysis showed that HLB disease has significant effects on various functional guilds of bacteria. Many genes involved in key ecological processes such as nitrogen cycling, carbon fixation, phosphorus utilization, metal homeostasis and resistance were significantly greater in healthy than in the ‘Ca. L. asiaticus''-infected citrus rhizosphere. Our results showed that the microbial community of the ‘Ca. L. asiaticus''-infected citrus rhizosphere has shifted away from using more easily degraded sources of carbon to the more recalcitrant forms. Overall, our study provides evidence that the change in plant physiology mediated by ‘Ca. L. asiaticus'' infection could elicit shifts in the composition and functional potential of rhizosphere microbial communities. In the long term, these fluctuations might have important implications for the productivity and sustainability of citrus-producing agro-ecosystems.     

Differences in the AMF diversity in soil and roots between two annual and perennial gramineous plants co-occurring in a Mediterranean, semiarid degraded area

Aims

In the present study, we analysed the diversity of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonising both the roots and rhizosphere soil of an annual herbaceous species, Bromus rubens, and a perennial herbaceous species, Brachypodium retusum, co-occurring in the same Mediterranean, semiarid degraded area. The intention was to study whether these two species promoted the diversity of AM fungi in their rhizospheres differently and to ascertain whether the AMF community harboured by an annual plant species differed from that harboured by a perennial species when both grew in the same place.

Methods

The AMF large subunit ribosomal RNA genes (LSU) were subjected to nested PCR, cloning, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.

Results

Twenty AMF sequence types belonging to Glomus group A, Glomus group B and Diversispora were identified. The two plant species differed in the AMF community composition in their roots, B. rubens showing a higher diversity of AMF than B. retusum. However the composition of the AMF communities associated with the two rhizosphere soils was similar.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the management of these Mediterranean, semiarid degraded areas should include the promotion of annual herbaceous plant communities in order to maintain the sustainability and productivity of these ecosystems.     

Effect of Bacillus mesonae H20-5 Treatment on Rhizospheric Bacterial Community of Tomato Plants under Salinity Stress

Plant growth-promoting bacteria improve plant growth under abiotic stress conditions. However, their effects on microbial succession in the rhizosphere are poorly understood. In this study, the inoculants of Bacillus mesonae strain H20-5 were administered to tomato plants grown in soils with different salinity levels (EC of 2, 4, and 6 dS/m). The bacterial communities in the bulk and rhizosphere soils were examined 14 days after H20-5 treatment using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Although the abundance of H20-5 rapidly decreased in the bulk and rhizosphere soils, a shift in the bacterial community was observed following H20-5 treatment. The variation in bacterial communities due to H20-5 treatment was higher in the rhizosphere than in the bulk soils. Additionally, the bacterial species richness and diversity were greater in the H20-5 treated rhizosphere than in the control. The composition and structure of the bacterial communities varied with soil salinity levels, and those in the H20-5 treated rhizosphere soil were clustered. The members of Actinobacteria genera, including Kineosporia, Virgisporangium, Actinoplanes, Gaiella, Blastococcus, and Solirubrobacter, were enriched in the H20-5 treated rhizosphere soils. The microbial co-occurrence network of the bacterial community in the H20-5 treated rhizosphere soils had more modules and keystone taxa compared to the control. These findings revealed that the strain H20-5 induced systemic tolerance in tomato plants and influenced the diversity, composition, structure, and network of bacterial communities. The bacterial community in the H20-5 treated rhizosphere soils also appeared to be relatively stable to soil salinity changes.     

Desert farming benefits from microbial potential in arid soils and promotes diversity and plant health

Background

To convert deserts into arable, green landscapes is a global vision, and desert farming is a strong growing area of agriculture world-wide. However, its effect on diversity of soil microbial communities, which are responsible for important ecosystem services like plant health, is still not known.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We studied the impact of long-term agriculture on desert soil in one of the most prominent examples for organic desert farming in Sekem (Egypt). Using a polyphasic methodological approach to analyse microbial communities in soil as well as associated with cultivated plants, drastic effects caused by 30 years of agriculture were detected. Analysing bacterial fingerprints, we found statistically significant differences between agricultural and native desert soil of about 60%. A pyrosequencing-based analysis of the 16S rRNA gene regions showed higher diversity in agricultural than in desert soil (Shannon diversity indices: 11.21/7.90), and displayed structural differences. The proportion of Firmicutes in field soil was significantly higher (37%) than in the desert (11%). Bacillus and Paenibacillus play the key role: they represented 96% of the antagonists towards phytopathogens, and identical 16S rRNA sequences in the amplicon library and for isolates were detected. The proportion of antagonistic strains was doubled in field in comparison to desert soil (21.6%/12.4%); disease-suppressive bacteria were especially enriched in plant roots. On the opposite, several extremophilic bacterial groups, e.g., Acidimicrobium, Rubellimicrobium and Deinococcus-Thermus, disappeared from soil after agricultural use. The N-fixing Herbaspirillum group only occurred in desert soil. Soil bacterial communities were strongly driven by the a-biotic factors water supply and pH.

Conclusions/Significance

After long-term farming, a drastic shift in the bacterial communities in desert soil was observed. Bacterial communities in agricultural soil showed a higher diversity and a better ecosystem function for plant health but a loss of extremophilic bacteria. Interestingly, we detected that indigenous desert microorganisms promoted plant health in desert agro-ecosystems.