scholarly journals Below-ground-above-ground Plant-microbial Interactions: Focusing on Soybean, Rhizobacteria and Mycorrhizal Fungi

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 261-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas O. Igiehon ◽  
Olubukola O. Babalola
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Drought Stress ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Plant Root ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Microbial Interactions ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Microbial Species ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Semi Arid

Introduction:Organisms seldom exist in isolation and are usually involved in interactions with several hosts and these interactions in conjunction with the physicochemical parameters of the soil affect plant growth and development. Researches into below and aboveground microbial community are unveiling a myriad of intriguing interactions within the rhizosphere, and many of the interactions are facilitated by exudates that are secreted by plants roots. These interactions can be harnessed for beneficial use in agriculture to enhance crop productivity especially in semi-arid and arid environments.The Rhizosphere:The rhizosphere is the region of soil close to plants roots that contain large number of diverse organisms. Examples of microbial candidates that are found in the rhizosphere include the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and rhizobacteria. These rhizosphere microorganisms use plant root secretions such as mucilage and flavonoids which are able to influence their diversity and function and also enhance their potential to colonize plants root.Natural Interactions between Microorganisms and Plant:In the natural environments, plants live in interactions with different microorganisms, which thrive belowground in the rhizosphere and aboveground in the phyllosphere. Some of the plant-microbial interactions (which can be in the form of antagonism, amensalism, parasitism and symbiosis) protect the host plants against detrimental microbial and non-microbial invaders and provide nutrients for plants while others negatively affect plants. These interactions can influence below-ground-above-ground plants’ biomass development thereby playing significant role in sustaining plants. Therefore, understanding microbial interactions within the rhizosphere and phyllosphere is urgent towards farming practices that are less dependent on conventional chemical fertilizers, which have known negative impacts on the environments.Below Ground Rhizobacteria Interactions Alleviate Drought Stress:Drought stress is one of the major factors militating against agricultural productivity globally and is likely to further increase. Belowground rhizobacteria interactions could play important role in alleviating drought stress in plants. These beneficial rhizobacterial colonize the rhizosphere of plants and impart drought tolerance by up regulation or down regulation of drought responsive genes such as ascorbate peroxidase, S-adenosyl-methionine synthetase, and heat shock protein.Insights into Below and above the Ground Microbial InteractionsviaOmic Studies:Investigating complex microbial community in the environment is a big challenge. Therefore, omic studies of microorganisms that inhabit the rhizosphere are important since this is where most plant-microbial interactions occur. One of the aims of this review is not to give detailed account of all the present omic techniques, but instead to highlight the current omic techniques that can possibly lead to detection of novel genes and their respective proteins within the rhizosphere which may be of significance in enhancing crop plants (such as soybean) productivity especially in semi-arid and arid environments.Future Prospects and Conclusions:Plant-microbial interactions are not totally understood, and there is, therefore, the need for further studies on these interactions in order to get more insights that may be useful in sustainable agricultural development. With the emergence of omic techniques, it is now possible to effectively monitor transformations in rhizosphere microbial community together with their effects on plant development. This may pave way for scientists to discover new microbial species that will interact effectively with plants. Such microbial species can be used as biofertilizers and/or bio-pesticides to increase crop yield and enhance global food security.

scholarly journals Drought Stress Triggers Shifts in the Root Microbial Community and Alters Functional Categories in the Microbial Gene Pool

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianbo Xie ◽  
Ghada E. Dawwam ◽  
Amira E. Sehim ◽  
Xian Li ◽  
Jiadong Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Drought Stress ◽  
Plant Growth ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Plant Tolerance ◽  
Functional Categories ◽  
Crop Failure ◽  
Drought Treatment ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Root Microbiome

Drought is a major threat to crop productivity and causes decreased plant growth, poor yields, and crop failure. Nevertheless, the frequency of droughts is expected to increase in the coming decades. The microbial communities associated with crop plants can influence how plants respond to various stresses; hence, microbiome manipulation is fast becoming an effective strategy for improving the stress tolerance of plants. The effect of drought stress on the root microbiome of perennial woody plants is currently poorly understood. Using Populus trees as a model ecosystem, we found that the diversity of the root microbial community decreased during drought treatment and that compositional shifts in microbes during drought stress were driven by the relative abundances of a large number of dominant phyla, including Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. A subset of microbes, including Streptomyces rochei, Bacillus arbutinivorans, B. endophyticus, B. megaterium, Aspergillus terreus, Penicillium raperi, Trichoderma ghanense, Gongronella butleri, and Rhizopus stolonifer, was isolated from the drought-treated poplar rhizosphere soils, which have potentially beneficial to plant fitness. Further controlled inoculation experiments showed that the isolated bacterial and fungal isolates positively impacted plant growth and drought tolerance. Collectively, our results demonstrate the impact of drought on root microbiome structure and provide a novel example of manipulating root microbiomes to improve plant tolerance.

scholarly journals Changes in the Microbial Community in Soybean Plots Treated with Biochar and Poultry Litter

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1428
Author(s):  
Rosalie B. Calderon ◽  
Chang Yoon Jeong ◽  
Hyun-Hwoi Ku ◽  
Lyndon M. Coghill ◽  
Young Jeong Ju ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Microbial Community Composition ◽  
Poultry Litter ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Microbial Interactions ◽  
Soil Microbiome ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Total N ◽  
The Impact

The application of organic materials that promote beneficial microbial activity is vital to maintaining soil health and crop productivity. We investigated the effect on the soil microbiome of applying biochar (BC), poultry litter (PL), and a combination of biochar and poultry litter (BC/PL) in soybean cultivation at the Red River Research Station (Bossier City, Louisiana, USA). We characterized the microbial profiles, community structure, and co-occurrence network from sequencing data to infer microbial interactions in the soil samples collected in the first and second years of each soil treatment (2016 and 2017, respectively). Our results showed that soil treatments with BC, PL, and a combination of both moderately changed the microbial community composition and structure. In particular, genera significantly affected by the different soil treatments were identified via differential abundance analysis. In addition, canonical correspondence analysis revealed that soil chemical properties, total N in the first year, and total C and pH in the second year influenced the community variability. The differentially enriched bacterial ASVs and co-occurring taxa were linked to nutrient cycling. This study provides insights into the impact of soil carbon amendment on the soil microbiome, a process which favors beneficial bacteria and promotes soybean growth.

scholarly journals Symbiotic Root-Endophytic Soil Microbes Improve Crop Productivity and Provide Environmental Benefits

Scientifica ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary E. Harman ◽  
Norman Uphoff
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Plant Root ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Cellular Environment ◽  
Visible Part ◽  
Root Symbionts

Plants should not be regarded as entities unto themselves, but as the visible part of plant-microbe complexes which are best understood as “holobiomes.” Some microorganisms when given the opportunity to inhabit plant roots become root symbionts. Such root colonization by symbiotic microbes can raise crop yields by promoting the growth of both shoots and roots, by enhancing uptake, fixation, and/or more efficient use of nutrients, by improving plants’ resistance to pests, diseases, and abiotic stresses that include drought, salt, and other environmental conditions, and by enhancing plants’ capacity for photosynthesis. We refer plant-microbe associations with these capabilities that have been purposefully established as enhanced plant holobiomes (EPHs). Here, we consider four groups of phylogenetically distinct and distant symbiotic endophytes: (1) Rhizobiaceae bacteria; (2) plant-obligate arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF); (3) selected endophytic strains of fungi in the genusTrichoderma; and (4) fungi in the Sebicales order, specificallyPiriformospora indica. Although these exhibit quite different “lifestyles” when inhabiting plants, all induce beneficial systemic changes in plants’ gene expression that are surprisingly similar. For example, all induce gene expression that produces proteins which detoxify reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are increased by environmental stresses on plants or by overexcitation of photosynthetic pigments. Gene overexpression results in a cellular environment where ROS levels are controlled and made more compatible with plants’ metabolic processes. EPHs also frequently exhibit increased rates of photosynthesis that contribute to greater plant growth and other capabilities. Soil organic matter (SOM) is augmented when plant root growth is increased and roots remain in the soil. The combination of enhanced photosynthesis, increasing sequestration of CO2from the air, and elevation of SOM removes C from the atmosphere and stores it in the soil. Reductions in global greenhouse gas levels can be accelerated by incentives for carbon farming and carbon cap-and-trade programs that reward such climate-friendly agriculture. The development and spread of EPHs as part of such initiatives has potential both to enhance farm productivity and incomes and to decelerate global warming.

scholarly journals Influence of Different Typ es Mycorrhizal Fungi on Crop Productivity

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raminder Kaur ◽  
Avtar Singh ◽  
J Kang
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Drought Condition ◽  
Mycorrhizal Association ◽  
Drought Conditions ◽  
Moderate Drought ◽  
Zinc Nutrition ◽  
Mycorrhizal Plants

Mycorrhizal fungi greatly enhanced the ability of plants to take up phosphorus and other nutrients those are relatively immobile and exist in low concentration in the soil solution. Fungi can be important in the uptake of other nutrients by the host plant. Zinc nutrition is most commonly reported as being influenced by the association, although uptake of copper (Cu) , iron, N, K, Ca and Mg has been reported to be enhanced. Water uptake may be improved by mycorrhizal association, making more resistant to drought condition. Often both water and nutrient uptake are higher in drought stressed mycorrhizal plants than in non mycorrhizal plants. The fungal strands are capable of altering the water potential of plants and can only alleviate moderate drought stress and in more severe drought conditions they become ineffective.

scholarly journals A Brief Study of Quinoa Role and Its Adaptation towards Salinity and Drought Stress

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 27-40
Author(s):  
Dua-e- Zainab ◽  
◽  
Asma Zafa ◽  
Sidra Sohail ◽  
Sharjeel Haider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Soil Salinization ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Gluten Free ◽  
Tube Wells ◽  
Halophytic Plant ◽  
Common Problems ◽  
Semi Arid

In light of declining freshwater supplies and soil salinization, it is critical to evaluate the ability of halophytic plant species to grow in semi-arid and arid environments, where crop plant production is significantly reduced. Soil salinity is a major agricultural issue in Pakistan, with alt-affected soils alone covering over six million hectares and more than 70% of tube-wells in saline areas pumping out salty water. Quinoa is a crop with seeds having a variety of nutrients in it as well as it’s seed are gluten-free with good agronomic, morphologic and biochemical characteristics and has a great potential to grow under combative climatic conditions; this property of quinoa makes it an excellent crop especially in the countries where adverse climatic conditions exist. It is a pseudo-cereal and is adaptable to different environmental needs, and has a great potential to deal with various abiotic stresses. Quinoa grows well under arid to semi-arid conditions where salinity and drought are common problems. Several studies have been carried out to elucidate the mechanisms used by quinoa to cope with high salt levels in the soil at various stages of plant development, but further research is still needed. Despite several recent researches on quinoa abiotic tension, much detail remains undisclosed. The present review discusses the quinoa adaptation towards salinity and drought stress.

A peek in the micro-sized world: a review of design principles, engineering tools, and applications of engineered microbial community

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 399-409
Author(s):  
Baizhen Gao ◽  
Rushant Sabnis ◽  
Tommaso Costantini ◽  
Robert Jinkerson ◽  
Qing Sun
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Environmental Remediation ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Design Principles ◽  
Microbial Interactions ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
New Gene ◽  
Global Biogeochemical Cycles ◽  
Synthetic Microbial Communities

Microbial communities drive diverse processes that impact nearly everything on this planet, from global biogeochemical cycles to human health. Harnessing the power of these microorganisms could provide solutions to many of the challenges that face society. However, naturally occurring microbial communities are not optimized for anthropogenic use. An emerging area of research is focusing on engineering synthetic microbial communities to carry out predefined functions. Microbial community engineers are applying design principles like top-down and bottom-up approaches to create synthetic microbial communities having a myriad of real-life applications in health care, disease prevention, and environmental remediation. Multiple genetic engineering tools and delivery approaches can be used to ‘knock-in' new gene functions into microbial communities. A systematic study of the microbial interactions, community assembling principles, and engineering tools are necessary for us to understand the microbial community and to better utilize them. Continued analysis and effort are required to further the current and potential applications of synthetic microbial communities.

scholarly journals Exogenously Used 24-Epibrassinolide Promotes Drought Tolerance in Maize Hybrids by Improving Plant and Water Productivity in an Arid Environment

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 354
Author(s):  
El-Sayed M. Desoky ◽  
Elsayed Mansour ◽  
Mohamed M. A. Ali ◽  
Mohamed A. T. Yasin ◽  
Mohamed I. E. Abdul-Hamid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Net Photosynthesis ◽  
Antioxidant Enzyme Activities ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Maize Hybrids ◽  
Semi Arid

The influence of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR24), applied to leaves at a concentration of 5 μM, on plant physio-biochemistry and its reflection on crop water productivity (CWP) and other agronomic traits of six maize hybrids was field-evaluated under semi-arid conditions. Two levels of irrigation water deficiency (IWD) (moderate and severe droughts; 6000 and 3000 m3 water ha−1, respectively) were applied versus a control (well-watering; 9000 m3 water ha−1). IWD reduced the relative water content, membrane stability index, photosynthetic efficiency, stomatal conductance, and rates of transpiration and net photosynthesis. Conversely, antioxidant enzyme activities and osmolyte contents were significantly increased as a result of the increased malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage compared to the control. These negative influences of IWD led to a reduction in CWP and grain yield-related traits. However, EBR24 detoxified the IWD stress effects and enhanced all the above-mentioned parameters. The evaluated hybrids varied in drought tolerance; Giza-168 was the best under moderate drought, while Fine-276 was the best under severe drought. Under IWD, certain physiological traits exhibited a highly positive association with yield and yield-contributing traits or CWP. Thus, exogenously using EBR24 for these hybrids could be an effective approach to improve plant and water productivity under reduced available water in semi-arid environments.

scholarly journals Physiological and biochemical responses of soybean plants inoculated with Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Bradyrhizobium under drought stress

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed S. Sheteiwy ◽  
Dina Fathi Ismail Ali ◽  
You-Cai Xiong ◽  
Marian Brestic ◽  
Milan Skalicky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Secondary Metabolism ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Relative Expression ◽  
Reverse Trend ◽  
Soybean Plants

Abstract Background The present study aims to study the effects of biofertilizers potential of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Bradyrhizobium japonicum (B. japonicum) strains on yield and growth of drought stressed soybean (Giza 111) plants at early pod stage (50 days from sowing, R3) and seed development stage (90 days from sowing, R5). Results Highest plant biomass, leaf chlorophyll content, nodulation, and grain yield were observed in the unstressed plants as compared with water stressed-plants at R3 and R5 stages. At soil rhizosphere level, AMF and B. japonicum treatments improved bacterial counts and the activities of the enzymes (dehydrogenase and phosphatase) under well-watered and drought stress conditions. Irrespective of the drought effects, AMF and B. japonicum treatments improved the growth and yield of soybean under both drought (restrained irrigation) and adequately-watered conditions as compared with untreated plants. The current study revealed that AMF and B. japonicum improved catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) in the seeds, and a reverse trend was observed in case of malonaldehyde (MDA) and proline under drought stress. The relative expression of the CAT and POD genes was up-regulated by the application of biofertilizers treatments under drought stress condition. Interestingly a reverse trend was observed in the case of the relative expression of the genes involved in the proline metabolism such as P5CS, P5CR, PDH, and P5CDH under the same conditions. The present study suggests that biofertilizers diminished the inhibitory effect of drought stress on cell development and resulted in a shorter time for DNA accumulation and the cycle of cell division. There were notable changes in the activities of enzymes involved in the secondary metabolism and expression levels of GmSPS1, GmSuSy, and GmC-INV in the plants treated with biofertilizers and exposed to the drought stress at both R3 and R5 stages. These changes in the activities of secondary metabolism and their transcriptional levels caused by biofertilizers may contribute to increasing soybean tolerance to drought stress. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that application of biofertilizers to soybean plants is a promising approach to alleviate drought stress effects on growth performance of soybean plants. The integrated application of biofertilizers may help to obtain improved resilience of the agro ecosystems to adverse impacts of climate change and help to improve soil fertility and plant growth under drought stress.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document