Compatible Mycorrhizal Types Contribute to a Better Design for Mixed Eucalyptus Plantations

Mixed-species forest plantation is a sound option to facilitate ecological restoration, plant diversity and ecosystem functions. Compatible species combinations are conducive to reconstruct plant communities that can persist at a low cost without further management and even develop into natural forest communities. However, our understanding of how the compatibility of mycorrhizal types mediates species coexistence is still limited, especially in a novel agroforestry system. Here, we assessed the effects of mycorrhizal association type on the survival and growth of native woody species in mixed-species Eucalyptus plantations. To uncover how mycorrhizal type regulates plant-soil feedbacks, we first conducted a pot experiments by treating distinct mycorrhizal plants with soil microbes from their own or other mycorrhizal types. We then compared the growth response of arbuscular mycorrhizal plants and ectomycorrhizal plants to different soil microbial compositions associated with Eucalyptus plants. We found that the type of mycorrhizal association had a significant impact on the survival and growth of native tree species in the Eucalyptus plantations. The strength and direction of the plant-soil feedbacks of focal tree species depended on mycorrhizal type. Non-mycorrhizal plants had consistent negative feedbacks with the highest survival in the Eucalyptus plantations, whereas nitrogen-fixing plants had consistent positive feedbacks and the lowest survival. Arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal plants performed varied feedback responses to soil microbes from distinct mycorrhizal plant species. Non-mycorrhizal plants grew better with Eucalyptus soil microbes while nitrogen-fixing plants grew worse with their own conspecific soil microbes. Different soil microbial compositions of Eucalyptus consistently increased the aboveground growth of arbuscular mycorrhizal plants, but the non-mycorrhizal microbial composition of the Eucalyptus soil resulted in greater belowground growth of ectomycorrhizal plants. Overall, Eucalyptus plants induced an unfavorable soil community, impeding coexistence with other mycorrhizal plants. Our study provides consistent observational and experimental evidence that mycorrhizal-mediated plant-microbial feedback on species coexistence among woody species. These findings are with important implications to optimize the species combinations for better design of mixed forest plantations.

Download Full-text

A quantitative synthesis of soil microbial effects on plant species coexistence

10.1101/2021.11.12.467958 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Xinyi Yan ◽

Jonathan M. Levine ◽

Gaurav S. Kandlikar

Keyword(s):

Species Interactions ◽

Soil Microbes ◽

Species Coexistence ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Priority Effects ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Plant Soil ◽

Niche Differences ◽

Plant Coexistence ◽

Microbial Effects

Soil microorganisms play a major role in shaping plant diversity, not only through their direct effects as pathogens, mutualists, and decomposers, but also by altering interactions between plants. In particular, previous research has shown that the soil community often generates frequency-dependent feedback loops among plants that can either destabilize species interactions, or generate stabilizing niche differences that promote species coexistence. However, recent insights from modern coexistence theory have shown that microbial effects on plant coexistence depend not only on these stabilizing or destabilizing effects, but also on the degree to which they generate competitive fitness differences. While many previous experiments have generated the data necessary for evaluating microbially mediated fitness differences, these effects have rarely been quantified in the literature. Here we present a meta-analysis of data from 50 studies, which we used to quantify the microbially mediated (de)stabilization and fitness differences derived from a classic plant-soil feedback model. Across 518 pairwise comparisons, we found that soil microbes generated both stabilization (or destabilization) and fitness differences, but also that the microbially mediated fitness differences dominated. As a consequence, if plants are otherwise equivalent competitors, the balance of soil microbe-generated (de)stabilization and fitness differences drives species exclusion much more frequently than coexistence or priority effects. Our work shows that microbially mediated fitness differences are an important but overlooked effect of soil microbes on plant coexistence. This finding paves the way for a more complete understanding of the processes that maintain plant biodiversity.

Download Full-text

Plant-soil feedback in herbaceous species of Mediterranean coastal dunes

Biological Letters ◽

10.2478/v10120-012-0007-2 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 35-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Giuliano Bonanomi ◽

Assunta Esposito ◽

Stefano Mazzoleni

Keyword(s):

Species Coexistence ◽

Soil Microbial Communities ◽

Coastal Dunes ◽

Soil Heterogeneity ◽

Mediterranean Vegetation ◽

Growth And Survival ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Plant Soil ◽

Soil Feedback ◽

Species Specific

Abstract Plants induce soil heterogeneity that can affect species coexistence. In this work, the soil heterogeneity induced by the growth of 9 species selected from Mediterranean vegetation of coastal dunes was studied in controlled conditions. We investigated the effect of the grown plants on soil characteristics (pH, electrical conductivity, NO3 -, and NH4 +) and performance of 4 target species (Dactylis hispanica, Melilotus neapolitana, Petrorhagia velutina, and Phleum subulatum). Plant growth and survival were affected by soil history in species-specific ways, showing a high variability of both parameters, with survival ranging from 100% to 0%. Soil history did not affect soil pH and conductivity but dramatically changed the availability of mineral nitrogen forms. However, for all plant species, growth and survival results were unrelated to the measured soil characters. Other factors, such as accumulation of allelopathic compounds and/or changes in soil microbial communities, may explain the observed effects. The experimental results, demonstrating a widespread occurrence of plant-soil feedback, show the importance of this process also in species-rich herbaceous Mediterranean vegetation.

Download Full-text

Mycorrhizal Association and Microbial Activity of Soil Cultivated with Cassava After Application of Mesotrione and Fluazifop-p-Butyl

Planta Daninha ◽

10.1590/0100-83582015000200013 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 275-281 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

H.M. Silveira ◽

D.V. Silva ◽

C.A.D. Melo ◽

M.D.C. Neto ◽

D.T. Saraiva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Microbial Activity ◽

Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽

Abiotic Factors ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Microbial Indicators ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Wide Range ◽

Mycorrhizal Association

Soil is a very heterogeneous environment that allows the establishment of wide range of microorganisms populations, whose balance is affected by biotic and abiotic factors. This study has aimed to assess the effect of doses of mesotrione and fluazifop-p-butyl herbicides and two assessment periods on microbial activity and biomass of soil cultivated with cassava Cacau-UFV cultivar, besides the root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Two trials were conducted in a protected environment where was realized post-emergence application of mesotrione in the doses of 72, 108, 144 and 216 g ha-1 and fluazifop-p-butyl in the doses of 100, 150, 200 and 300 g ha-1, besides a control without application. Soil samples were collected for determination of soil respiratory rate (RR), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), metabolic quotient (qCO2), and colonization of roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at the 30 and 60 days after applications (DAA) of the herbicides. Fluazifop-p-butyl increased the RR, MBC and the percentage of cassava roots colonized by mycorrhizal fungi in the assessment performed at 60 DAA. The larger effects of mesotrione on soil microbial indicators were up to 30 DAA, being the changes minimized at 60 DAA. It is concluded that the herbicides alter the soil microbial indicators, with effects dependent of the product, of dose applied and also of the period of assessment.

Download Full-text

Rapid transfer of photosynthetic carbon through the plant-soil system in differently managed grasslands

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-8-921-2011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 921-940 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

G. B. De Deyn ◽

H. Quirk ◽

S. Oakley ◽

N. Ostle ◽

R. D. Bardgett

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Plant Diversity ◽

Soil Microbes ◽

Soil Microbial Communities ◽

Short Term ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Plant Soil ◽

C Cycling ◽

Rapid Transfer

Abstract. Plant-soil interactions are central to short-term carbon (C) cycling through the rapid transfer of recently assimilated C from plant roots to soil biota. In grassland ecosystems, changes in C cycling are likely to be influenced by land use and management that changes vegetation and the associated soil microbial communities. Here we tested whether changes in grassland vegetation composition resulting from management for plant diversity influences short-term rates of C assimilation, retention and transfer from plants to soil microbes. To do this, we used an in situ 13C-CO2 pulse-labeling approach to measure differential C uptake among different plant species and the transfer of the plant-derived 13C to key groups of soil microbiota across selected treatments of a long-term plant diversity grassland restoration experiment. Results showed that plant taxa differed markedly in the rate of 13C assimilation and retention: uptake was greatest and retention lowest in Ranunculus repens, and assimilation was least and retained longest in mosses. Incorporation of recent plant-derived 13C was maximal in all microbial phosopholipid fatty acid (PLFA) markers at 24 h after labeling. The greatest incorporation of 13C was in the PLFA 16:1ω5, a marker for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), while after one week most 13C was retained in the PLFA 18:2ω6,9 which is indicative of assimilation of plant-derived 13C by saprophytic fungi. Our results of 13C assimilation, transfer and retention within plant species and soil microbes were consistent across management treatments. Overall, our findings suggest that changes in vegetation and soil microbial composition resulting from differences in long-term grassland management will affect short-term cycling of photosynthetic C, but that restoration management does not alter the short-term C uptake and transfer within plant species and within key groups of soil microbes. Moreover, across all treatments we found that plant-derived C is rapidly transferred specifically to AMF and decomposer fungi, indicating their consistent key role in the cycling of recent plant derived C.

Download Full-text

Mediterranean oaks harbor more specific soil microbes at the dry end of a precipitation gradient

10.1101/2020.05.14.095943 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Gemma Rutten ◽

Lorena Gómez-Aparicio ◽

Beat Frey

Keyword(s):

Microbial Communities ◽

Community Dynamics ◽

Soil Microbes ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

Context Dependency ◽

Precipitation Gradient ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Plant Soil ◽

Β Diversity ◽

Mediterranean Oaks

AbstractBackgroundRecent evidence suggests that soil microbial communities can regulate plant community dynamics. In addition, the drought tolerance of plants can be enhanced by soil microbes. So far, few studies have assessed the variation in the microbiome of specific plant species along environmental gradients. Yet understanding these dynamics is essential to improve predictions of plant-soil feedbacks and the consequences of ongoing climate changes. Here we characterized the soil microbiome of two co-occurring Mediterranean oaks along a precipitation gradient, using amplicon sequencing of phylogenetic marker genes for prokaryotes and fungi. Additionally, we identified tree-specific and locally-specific microbes potentially responsible for tree community dynamics.ResultsWe show that two co-occurring, evergreen Mediterranean oak species harbor distinct microbiomes along a precipitation gradient. The soil microbial diversity increased along the precipitation gradient, for prokaryotic α and β diversity and for fungal β diversity. Quercus ilex harbored richer fungal communities than Quercus suber, and host-specific taxa more often belonged to fungi than to prokaryotes. Notably, the microbial communities at the dry end of the precipitation gradient harbored more locally-specific prokaryotic and fungal taxa than the microbial communities with a higher diversity, at the wet end of the gradient, suggesting higher specialization in drier areas.ConclusionsEven congeneric tree species, belonging to the same functional group, can harbor distinct and specific soil microbiomes. These microbiomes become more similar and consist of more specialized taxa under drier compared with wetter conditions. With this, our study offers a step towards a better understanding of the context-dependency of plant-soil feedbacks by going beyond α and β diversities and focusing on specialized taxa potentially driving community changes along environmental gradients. We hope that our study will stimulate future research assessing the importance of context-dependency of interactions between plants and soil communities in a changing world.

Download Full-text

The Next Step: Disentangling the Role of Plant-Soil Feedbacks in Plant Performance and Species Coexistence Under Natural Conditions

10.3389/978-2-88966-023-0 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Species Coexistence ◽

Plant Performance ◽

Natural Conditions ◽

Plant Soil

Download Full-text

Interactive impacts of boron and organic amendments in plant-soil microbial relationships

Journal of Hazardous Materials ◽

10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124939 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 408 ◽

pp. 124939

Author(s):

A. Vera ◽

J.L. Moreno ◽

J.A. Siles ◽

R. López-Mondejar ◽

Y. Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Amendments ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Plant Soil

Download Full-text

A Meta-Analytical Approach on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation Efficiency on Plant Growth and Nutrient Uptake

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture10090370 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 370

Author(s):

Murugesan Chandrasekaran

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Nutrient Uptake ◽

Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Host Plants ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Growth Responses ◽

Mycorrhizal Plants

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate symbionts of higher plants which increase the growth and nutrient uptake of host plants. The primary objective was initiated based on analyzing the enormity of optimal effects upon AMF inoculation in a comparative bias between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants stipulated on plant biomass and nutrient uptake. Consequently, in accomplishing the above-mentioned objective a vast literature was collected, analyzed, and evaluated to establish a weighted meta-analysis irrespective of AMF species, plant species, family and functional group, and experimental conditions in the context of beneficial effects of AMF. I found a significant increase in the shoot, root, and total biomass by 36.3%, 28.5%, and, 29.7%, respectively. Moreover, mycorrhizal plants significantly increased phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium uptake by 36.3%, 22.1%, and 18.5%, respectively. Affirmatively upon cross-verification studies, plant growth parameters intensification was accredited to AMF (Rhizophagus fasciculatus followed by Funniliforme mosseae), plants (Triticum aestivum followed by Solanum lycopersicum), and plant functional groups (dicot, herbs, and perennial) were the additional vital important significant predictor variables of plant growth responses. Therefore, the meta-analysis concluded that the emancipated prominent root characteristics, increased morphological traits that eventually help the host plants for efficient phosphorus uptake, thereby enhancing plant biomass. The present analysis can be rationalized for any plant stress and assessment of any microbial agent that contributes to plant growth promotion.

Download Full-text