Response of Root Exudates of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) to Exposure of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Root exudates play a pivotal role in the behaviors of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mangrove sediments, but the knowledge of how mangrove root exudates response to PAHs pollutants is limited. This study examined the root exudates of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) (B. gymnorrhiza) under exposure in phenanthrene, pyrene, and benzo[a]pyrene solution through a 45 days hydroponic cultivation. The results showed that the root exudates of B. gymnorrhiza were mainly hydrocarbon compounds. Tartaric acid was the dominant low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs) in root exudates. Under PAHs stress, the proportion of hydrocarbon compounds in root exudates decreased, while the proportion of amide compounds increased. At the first 15 days exposure, the amounts of dissolved organic carbon, soluble total sugars, total organic acids and LWMOAs all increased and reached the maximum values, subsequently, the amounts of root exudates had dropped. The degradation rates of PAHs followed the sequence of phenanthrene > pyrene > benzo [a] pyrene, and the presence of root exudates can significantly enhance the degradation of PAHs. The results illustrated that PAHs stress can significantly change the concentrations and species of root exudates. This study provides the scientific reference for understanding the ability of B. gymnorrhiza response to PAHs stress.

Belowground Chemical Interactions: An Insight Into Host-Specific Behavior of Globodera spp. Hatched in Root Exudates From Potato and Its Wild Relative, Solanum sisymbriifolium

Understanding belowground chemical interactions between plant roots and plant-parasitic nematodes is immensely important for sustainable crop production and soilborne pest management. Due to metabolic diversity and ever-changing dynamics of root exudate composition, the impact of only certain molecules, such as nematode hatching factors, repellents, and attractants, has been examined in detail. Root exudates are a rich source of biologically active compounds, which plants use to shape their ecological interactions. However, the impact of these compounds on nematode parasitic behavior is poorly understood. In this study, we specifically address this knowledge gap in two cyst nematodes, Globodera pallida, a potato cyst nematode and the newly described species, Globodera ellingtonae. Globodera pallida is a devastating pest of potato (Solanum tuberosum) worldwide, whereas potato is a host for G. ellingtonae, but its pathogenicity remains to be determined. We compared the behavior of juveniles (J2s) hatched in response to root exudates from a susceptible potato cv. Desirée, a resistant potato cv. Innovator, and an immune trap crop Solanum sisymbriifolium (litchi tomato – a wild potato relative). Root secretions from S. sisymbriifolium greatly reduced the infection rate on a susceptible host for both Globodera spp. Juvenile motility was also significantly influenced in a host-dependent manner. However, reproduction on a susceptible host from juveniles hatched in S. sisymbriifolium root exudates was not affected, nor was the number of encysted eggs from progeny cysts. Transcriptome analysis by using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed the molecular basis of root exudate-mediated modulation of nematode behavior. Differentially expressed genes are grouped into two major categories: genes showing characteristics of effectors and genes involved in stress responses and xenobiotic metabolism. To our knowledge, this is the first study that shows genome-wide root exudate-specific transcriptional changes in hatched preparasitic juveniles of plant-parasitic nematodes. This research provides a better understanding of the correlation between exudates from different plants and their impact on nematode behavior prior to the root invasion and supports the hypothesis that root exudates play an important role in plant-nematode interactions.

Ecophysiological properties of a cluster root-forming plant, Helicia cochinchinensis (Proteaceae) grown on Miyajima Island, Japan

Aims The family Proteaceae is one of the dominant families in nutrient-impoverished habitats in the Southern hemisphere, and less common in the Northern hemisphere. Helicia cochinchinensis Lour. is the only Proteaceae species in Japan. This study aimed to unveil the ecophysiological properties of H. cochinchinensis grown on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima, Japan.Methods Phosphorus (P) status and dynamics of soils in H. cochinchinensis habitats were measured. Plant P and nitrogen (N) concentrations of leaves were measured after digestion. Roots and rhizosheath soil were collected to assess root morphology and root exudates.Results Available P (Olsen-P) in soils in habitats of H. cochinchinensis was 0.46–3.7 mg P kg-1 soil. Citrate was the major carboxylate in root exudates and its concentration increased during cluster-root formation. Acid phosphatase activity was greater at the surface of cluster roots that on the surface of other roots and bulk soil, especially for mature cluster roots. Sparingly soluble organic P concentrations decreased in the rhizosheath soil of mature cluster roots. The P concentrations of H. cochinchinensis leaves were relatively low; 0.34–0.69 mg P g-1 DW and 0.15–0.29 mg P g-1 DW in mature and senesced leaves, respectively. The P demand of H. cochinchinensis was less than that of nearby trees, showing greater P-remobilization efficiency.Conclusions Phosphorus mobilization from unavailable P by cluster roots supported P uptake by H. cochinchinensis, and P remobilization from senescing leaves contributed to sustain growth under P-deficient conditions.

Soil minerals affect taxon-specific bacterial growth

Secondary minerals (clays and metal oxides) are important components of the soil matrix. Clay minerals affect soil carbon persistence and cycling, and they also select for distinct microbial communities. Here we show that soil mineral assemblages—particularly short-range order minerals—affect both bacterial community composition and taxon-specific growth. Three soils with different parent material and presence of short-range order minerals were collected from ecosystems with similar vegetation and climate. These three soils were provided with 18O-labeled water and incubated with or without artificial root exudates or pine needle litter. Quantitative stable isotope probing was used to determine taxon-specific growth. We found that the growth of bacteria varied among soils of different mineral assemblages but found the trend of growth suppression in the presence of short-range order minerals. Relative growth of bacteria declined with increasing concentration of short-range order minerals between 25–36% of taxa present in all soils. Carbon addition in the form of plant litter or root exudates weakly affected relative growth of taxa (p = 0.09) compared to the soil type (p < 0.01). However, both exudate and litter carbon stimulated growth for at least 34% of families in the soils with the most and least short-range order minerals. In the intermediate short-range order soil, fresh carbon reduced growth for more bacterial families than were stimulated. These results highlight how bacterial-mineral-substrate interactions are critical to soil organic carbon processing, and how growth variation in bacterial taxa in these interactions may contribute to soil carbon persistence and loss.

Effects of wheat root exudates on bacterial communities in the rhizosphere of watermelon

In this study, we investigated the effects of wheat root exudates on soil bacterial communities in the watermelon rhizosphere using quantitative PCR and Illumina MiSeq sequencing. The qPCR results showed that wheat root exudates significantly increased the abundance of total bacteria, Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Streptomyces spp. Illumina MiSeq sequencing results showed that wheat root exudates significantly changed the bacterial community structure and composition. These results indicated that plant root exudates play a role in plant-to-plant signalling, strongly affect the microbial community composition.

Rhizobium Symbiotic Capacity Shapes Root-Associated Microbiomes in Soybean

Root-microbiome interactions are of central importance for plant performance and yield. A distinctive feature of legumes is that they engage in symbiosis with N2-fixing rhizobia. If and how the rhizobial symbiotic capacity modulates root-associated microbiomes are still not yet well understood. We determined root-associated microbiomes of soybean inoculated with wild type (WT) or a noeI mutant of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 110 by amplicon sequencing. UPLC-MS/MS was used to analyze root exudates. The noeI gene is responsible for fucose-methylation of Nod factor secreted by USDA 110 WT strain. Soybean roots inoculated with the noeI mutant showed a significant decrease in nodulation and root-flavonoid exudation compared to roots inoculated with WT strain. The noeI mutant-inoculated roots exhibited strong changes in microbiome assembly in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane, including reduced diversity, changed co-occurrence interactions and a substantial depletion of root microbes. Root exudates and soil physiochemical properties were significantly correlated with microbial community shift in the rhizosphere between different rhizobial treatments. These results illustrate that rhizobial symbiotic capacity dramatically alters root-associated microbiomes, in which root exudation and edaphic patterns play a vital role. This study has important implications for understanding the evolution of plant-microbiome interactions.