scholarly journals Plant-Dependent Soil Bacterial Responses Following Amendment With a Multispecies Microbial Biostimulant Compared to Rock Mineral and Chemical Fertilizers

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bede S. Mickan ◽  
Ahmed R. Alsharmani ◽  
Zakaria M. Solaiman ◽  
Matthias Leopold ◽  
Lynette K. Abbott
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Soil Amendments ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Mineral Fertilizer ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
Rock Mineral ◽  
Wimmera Ryegrass ◽  
Bacterial Richness ◽  
Soil Bacterial

Biostimulants are gaining momentum as potential soil amendments to increase plant health and productivity. Plant growth responses to some biostimulants and poorly soluble fertilizers could increase soil microbial diversity and provide greater plant access to less soluble nutrients. We assessed an agricultural soil amended with a multispecies microbial biostimulant in comparison with two fertilizers that differed in elemental solubilities to identify effects on soil bacterial communities associated with two annual pasture species (subterranean clover and Wimmera ryegrass). The treatments applied were: a multispecies microbial biostimulant, a poorly soluble rock mineral fertilizer at a rate of 5.6 kg P ha–1, a chemical fertilizer at a rate of 5.6 kg P ha–1, and a negative control with no fertilizer or microbial biostimulant. The two annual pasture species were grown separately for 10 weeks in a glasshouse with soil maintained at 70% of field capacity. Soil bacteria were studied using 16S rRNA with 27F and 519R bacterial primers on the Mi-seq platform. The microbial biostimulant had no effect on growth of either of the pasture species. However, it did influence soil biodiversity in a way that was dependent on the plant species. While application of the fertilizers increased plant growth, they were both associated with the lowest diversity of the soil bacterial community based on Fisher and Inverse Simpson indices. Additionally, these responses were plant-dependent; soil bacterial richness was highly correlated with soil pH for subterranean clover but not for Wimmera ryegrass. Soil bacterial richness was lowest following application of each fertilizer when subterranean clover was grown. In contrast, for Wimmera ryegrass, soil bacterial richness was lowest for the control and rock mineral fertilizer. Beta diversity at the bacterial OTU level of resolution by permanova demonstrated a significant impact of soil amendments, plant species and an interaction between plant type and soil amendments. This experiment highlights the complexity of how soil amendments, including microbial biostimulants, may influence soil bacterial communities associated with different plant species, and shows that caution is required when linking soil biodiversity to plant growth. In this case, the microbial biostimulant influenced soil biodiversity without influencing plant growth.

scholarly journals Revegetation of abandoned copper mines: the role of seed banks and soil amendments

Web Ecology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Carvalho ◽  
C. Nabais ◽  
S. R. Roiloa ◽  
S. Rodríguez-Echeverría
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Soil Amendments ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Mine Soils ◽  
Mine Soil ◽  
Plant Establishment ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Mining is one of the main causes of environmental pollution by heavy metals and (re)vegetation of mine spoils is the most effective method of preventing wind and water erosion and the consequent spread of contaminants to surrounding areas. However, plant establishment and growth are conditioned by some limiting factors of mine soils, such as low pH, low fertility, high heavy metal concentration, and a small seed bank to initiate plant establishment. Improving soil physical and chemical properties is required in many cases for successful (re)vegetation programs. In the copper mine of Touro, Galicia, Spain there is a large-scale project of soil amendment underway using technosols, a mixture of several organic residuals, to improve the conditions of mine soils. We evaluated the seed bank of several types of technosols, mine soil and soil from a control area outside the mine by studying seedling emergence in these soils. In a second experiment we evaluated the impact of increasing pH with liming and the admixing of nutrient-rich soil on the growth of two grasses (Lolium perenne and Dactylis glomerata) and two legumes (Medicago sativa and Trifolium subterrraneum) both sown individually and in mixtures. Seedling emergence and species richness were highest in the technosols. Soil amendments promoted plant growth, with the addition of high-nutrient soil being the best amendment for the four plant species tested. Plant growth was impaired in the mine soil. Lolium perenne was the only plant species that germinated and grew in this soil. We found that soil amendments, either through the addition of technosols, pH buffering or nutrient enrichment, are essential for promoting the revegetation of mine areas.

scholarly journals New Soil, Old Plants, and Ubiquitous Microbes: Evaluating the Potential of Incipient Basaltic Soil to Support Native Plant Growth and Influence Belowground Soil Microbial Community Composition

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aditi Sengupta ◽  
Priyanka Kushwaha ◽  
Antonia Jim ◽  
Peter A. Troch ◽  
Raina Maier
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Plant Growth ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Soil Microbial Community ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Microbial Community Composition ◽  
Parent Material ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Soil Microbial

The plant-microbe-soil nexus is critical in maintaining biogeochemical balance of the biosphere. However, soil loss and land degradation are occurring at alarmingly high rates, with soil loss exceeding soil formation rates. This necessitates evaluating marginal soils for their capacity to support and sustain plant growth. In a greenhouse study, we evaluated the capacity of marginal incipient basaltic parent material to support native plant growth, and the associated variation in soil microbial community dynamics. Three plant species, native to the Southwestern Arizona-Sonora region were tested with three soil treatments including basaltic parent material, parent material amended with 20% compost, and potting soil. The parent material with and without compost supported germination and growth of all the plant species, though germination was lower than the potting soil. A 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing approach showed Proteobacteria to be the most abundant phyla in both parent material and potting soil, followed by Actinobacteria. Microbial community composition had strong correlations with soil characteristics but not plant attributes within a given soil material. Predictive functional potential capacity of the communities revealed chemoheterotrophy as the most abundant metabolism within the parent material, while photoheterotrophy and anoxygenic photoautotrophy were prevalent in the potting soil. These results show that marginal incipient basaltic soil has the ability to support native plant species growth, and non-linear associations may exist between plant-marginal soil-microbial interactions.

scholarly journals Silicon flow from root to shoot in pepper: a comprehensive in silico analysis reveals a potential linkage between gene expression and hormone signaling that stimulates plant growth and metabolism

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10053
Author(s):  
Fernando Carlos Gómez-Merino ◽  
Libia Iris Trejo-Téllez ◽  
Atonaltzin García-Jiménez ◽  
Hugo Fernando Escobar-Sepúlveda ◽  
Sara Monzerrat Ramírez-Olvera
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
In Silico ◽  
In Silico Analysis ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Plant Tissues ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Root Cells ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Silico Analysis

Background Silicon (Si) is categorized as a quasi-essential element for plants thanks to the benefits on growth, development and metabolism in a hormetic manner. Si uptake is cooperatively mediated by Lsi1 and Lsi2. Nevertheless, Lsi channels have not yet been identified and characterized in pepper (Capsicum annuum), while genes involved in major physiological processes in pepper are Si-regulated. Furthermore, Si and phytohormones may act together in regulating plant growth, metabolism and tolerance against stress. Our aim was to identify potential synergies between Si and phytohormones stimulating growth and metabolism in pepper, based on in silico data. Methods We established a hydroponic system to test the effect of Si (0, 60, 125 and 250 mg L−1 Si) on the concentrations of this element in different pepper plant tissues. We also performed an in silico analysis of putative Lsi genes from pepper and other species, including tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), potato (Solanum tuberosum) and Arabidopsis thaliana, to look for cis-acting elements responsive to phytohormones in their promoter regions. With the Lsi1 and Lsi2 protein sequences from various plant species, we performed a phylogenetic analysis. Taking into consideration the Lsi genes retrieved from tomato, potato and Arabidopsis, an expression profiling analysis in different plant tissues was carried out. Expression of Si-regulated genes was also analyzed in response to phytohormones and different plant tissues and developmental stages in Arabidopsis. Results Si concentrations in plant tissues exhibited the following gradient: roots > stems > leaves. We were able to identify 16 Lsi1 and three Lsi2 genes in silico in the pepper genome, while putative Lsi homologs were also found in other plant species. They were mainly expressed in root tissues in the genomes analyzed. Both Lsi and Si-regulated genes displayed cis-acting elements responsive to diverse phytohormones. In Arabidopsis, Si-regulated genes were transcriptionally active in most tissues analyzed, though at different expressed levels. From the set of Si-responsive genes, the NOCS2 gene was highly expressed in germinated seeds, whereas RABH1B, and RBCS-1A, were moderately expressed in developed flowers. All genes analyzed showed responsiveness to phytohormones and phytohormone precursors. Conclusion Pepper root cells are capable of absorbing Si, but small amounts of this element are transported to the upper parts of the plant. We could identify putative Si influx (Lsi1) and efflux (Lsi2) channels that potentially participate in the absorption and transport of Si, since they are mainly expressed in roots. Both Lsi and Si-regulated genes exhibit cis-regulatory elements in their promoter regions, which are involved in phytohormone responses, pointing to a potential connection among Si, phytohormones, plant growth, and other vital physiological processes triggered by Si in pepper.

scholarly journals Growth of Native Aromatic Xerophytes in an Extensive Mediterranean Green Roof as Affected by Substrate Type and Depth and Irrigation Frequency

HortScience ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 1327-1333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Papafotiou ◽  
Niki Pergialioti ◽  
Lamprini Tassoula ◽  
Ioannis Massas ◽  
Georgios Kargas
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Green Roof ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Substrate Type ◽  
Irrigation Frequency ◽  
Artemisia Absinthium ◽  
Grape Marc ◽  
Local Character

Green roofs could be a way to increase vegetation in the center of old Mediterranean cities. The need for conservation of local character and biodiversity requires the use of native plant species, whereas the deficiency of water, particularly in semiarid regions, requires the use of species with reduced irrigation needs. Moreover, the aged buildings lead to the use of lightweight green roof constructions. Therefore, research was undertaken to investigate the possibility of using three Mediterranean aromatic xerophytes, Artemisia absinthium L., Helichrysum italicum Roth., and H. orientale L., at an extensive green roof in Athens, Greece. Simultaneously, the possibility of using locally produced grape marc compost was investigated. Substrate type and depth and irrigation frequency effects on growth of these species were studied. Rooted cuttings were planted mid-May in plastic containers with a green roof infrastructure fitted (moisture retention and protection of the insulation mat, drainage layer, and filter sheet) and placed on a fully exposed third floor flat roof at the Agricultural University of Athens. Two types of substrates were used, grape marc compost:soil:perlite (2:3:5, v/v) and peat:soil:perlite (2:3:5, v/v, as a control), as well as two substrate depths, 7.5 (shallow) and 15 cm (deep), and two irrigation frequencies, sparse (5 or 7 days in shallow and deep substrate, respectively) and normal (3 or 5 days in shallow and deep substrate, respectively). Increased contents of macroelements, total phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in particular, were recorded in the compost-amended substrate, whereas both substrates had similar physical properties. Plant growth was recorded from May to October. The deep compost-amended substrate, independent of irrigation frequency, resulted in taller plants with bigger diameter and aboveground dry weight in all species. However, a remarkable result was that shallow compost-amended substrate with sparse irrigation resulted in similar or even bigger plant growth of all plant species compared with deep peat-amended substrate with normal irrigation. Thus, all three species were found suitable for use in Mediterranean extensive or semi-intensive green roofs, whereas the use of grape marc compost in the substrate allowed for less water consumption and the reduction of substrate depth without restriction of plant growth at the establishment phase and the first period of drought.

scholarly journals Impacts of Intensive Land use on Soil Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functions in Central China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
QUANCHAO ZENG ◽  
Yingze Meitang ◽  
Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo ◽  
Yonghong Wu ◽  
Wenfeng Tan
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Acidification ◽  
Natural Vegetation ◽  
Central China ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
C Cycle ◽  
Citrus Orchards ◽  
Soil Bacterial ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi

Abstract Background: The impacts of the conversion of natural to agricultural ecosystem on soil biodiversity and ecosystem functions are still disputable. Here, we compared the soil biodiversity (bacteria and fungi) and ecosystem functions of citrus orchards in different stages of succession (5–30 years) with those in adjacent natural ecosystems. Different management strategies were also considered for one of this stage (15 years). Results: The results indicate that changes from natural vegetation land to citrus orchards would lead to reduced soil bacterial diversity, as well as significant declines in multiple ecosystem functions associated with C cycle after 30 years of citrus plantation. However, the functions associated with N and P cycle were enhanced by the plantation. Citrus plantation negatively affected the C cycle by reducing the soil microbial diversity. Reduction in soil bacterial biodiversity was indirectly driven by increased soil acidification resulting from citrus plantation, while wheat straw addition could alleviate the reduction (15-year stage). Compared with natural vegetation, citrus plantation also reduced the relative abundance of multiple phylotypes, including Alphaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Subgroup_6, Subgroup_4, Anaerolineae and Bacteroidia. The ecological clusters of soil bacteria and fungi were significantly associated with multiple ecosystem functions, suggesting that citrus planting altered multiple ecosystem functions via ecological clusters. Conclusions: Taken together, our results indicate that soil biodiversity, soil functions and C:N:P coupling are sensitive to the conversion of natural vegetation land to agricultural land, and further suggest that proper management of soil acidification can address some negative impacts of land use conversion on soil biodiversity and functions.

scholarly journals Evaluation of wild plants as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) accumulators for phytoremediation of contaminated rice fields

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuril Hidayati ◽  
Dwi Setyo Rini
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Plant Growth ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Biomass Production ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Translocation Factor ◽  
Rice Fields ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Acorus Calamus ◽  
Cost Constraints

Abstract. Hidayati N, Rini DS. 2020. Assessment of plants as lead and cadmium accumulators for phytoremediation of contaminated rice field. Biodiversitas 21: 1928-1934. Heavy metals contamination in agricultural land becoming a serious problem since this causes declining in agriculture production and quality and thus food safety. Meanwhile, conventional efforts for remediation of the contaminated agricultural lands have not been widely implemented due to high-cost constraints. A low-cost technology that can be applied in contaminated sites is phytoremediation. This technique is based on the fact that plants have the ability to extract and accumulate heavy metals. This research aimed to study the potentials of some plant species as accumulators for phytoremediation in rice fields contaminated by heavy metals of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). Six selected accumulator plant species, namely Colocasia sp., Ipomoea fistulosa Mart. ex Choisy, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, Hymenachne amplexicaulis (Rudge) Nees), Saccharum spontaneum L., and Acorus calamus L., were tested in in-situ field to identify the performance of the plants as accumulators for Pb and Cd. Parameters observed were plant growth and biomass production, and the accumulation of Pb and Cd in plants which is formulated as: bioconcentration factor (BCF) to indicate concentration ratio of metal in plant to soil, and translocation factor (TF) to indicate metal transportation ratio of shoot to root. The results showed that plants with the highest growth rate under contaminated conditions were E. crassipes, A. calamus, and H. amplexicaulis. The highest value of BCF for Pb accumulation was recorded in the shoot of H. amplexicaulis and E. crassipes and in the root of H. amplexicaulis and A. calamus, whereas the highest value of TF for Pb was observed in E. crassipes, S. spontaneum, and H. amplexicaulis. Meanwhile, the highest value of BCF for Cd in the shoot and in the root was observed in Colocasia sp and H. amplexicaulis whereas the highest value of TF for Cd was identified in A calamus and Colocasia sp. With regards to the performance of plant growth, biomass production, and accumulation of Pb and Cd, it is suggested that three plant species, namely E. crassipes, A. calamus, and H. amplexicaulis are considered as potential Pb and Cd accumulators for phytoremediation of contaminated rice fields. Our findings suggest that some plants can produce high biomass and absorb high contaminants while other plants cannot, implying that plants respond differently to different environmental conditions. Therefore continuous research is required to obtain the best plant species for phytoremediation.

scholarly journals Rhizobacteria and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi of Oil Crops (Physic Nut and Sacha Inchi): A Cultivable-Based Assessment for Abundance, Diversity, and Plant Growth-Promoting Potentials

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1773
Author(s):  
Janjira Wiriya ◽  
Chakrapong Rangjaroen ◽  
Neung Teaumroong ◽  
Rungroch Sungthong ◽  
Saisamorn Lumyong
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Physic Nut ◽  
Soil Features ◽  
Oil Crops ◽  
Pot Experiments ◽  
Plant Growth Promoting ◽  
Sacha Inchi ◽  
Growth Promoting

Nowadays, oil crops are very attractive both for human consumption and biodiesel production; however, little is known about their commensal rhizosphere microbes. In this study, rhizosphere samples were collected from physic nut and sacha inchi plants grown in several areas of Thailand. Rhizobacteria, cultivable in nitrogen-free media, and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi were isolated and examined for abundance, diversity, and plant growth-promoting activities (indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and siderophore production, nitrogen fixation, and phosphate solubilization). Results showed that only the AM spore amount was affected by plant species and soil features. Considering rhizobacterial diversity, two classes—Alphaproteobacteria (Ensifer sp. and Agrobacterium sp.) and Gammaproteobacteria (Raoultella sp. and Pseudomonas spp.)—were identified in physic nut rhizosphere, and three classes; Actinobacteria (Microbacterium sp.), Betaproteobacteria (Burkholderia sp.) and Gammaproteobacteria (Pantoea sp.) were identified in the sacha inchi rhizosphere. Considering AM fungal diversity, four genera were identified (Acaulospora, Claroideoglomus, Glomus, and Funneliformis) in sacha inchi rhizospheres and two genera (Acaulospora and Glomus) in physic nut rhizospheres. The rhizobacteria with the highest IAA production and AM spores with the highest root-colonizing ability were identified, and the best ones (Ensifer sp. CM1-RB003 and Acaulospora sp. CM2-AMA3 for physic nut, and Pantoea sp. CR1-RB056 and Funneliformis sp. CR2-AMF1 for sacha inchi) were evaluated in pot experiments alone and in a consortium in comparison with a non-inoculated control. The microbial treatments increased the length and the diameter of stems and the chlorophyll content in both the crops. CM1-RB003 and CR1-RB056 also increased the number of leaves in sacha inchi. Interestingly, in physic nut, the consortium increased AM fungal root colonization and the numbers of offspring AM spores in comparison with those observed in sacha inchi. Our findings proved that AM fungal abundance and diversity likely rely on plant species and soil features. In addition, pot experiments showed that rhizosphere microorganisms were the key players in the development and growth of physic nut and sacha inchi.

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