The foliar spray of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodopseudomonas palustris</Emphasis> grown under <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stevia</Emphasis> residue extract promotes plant growth via changing soil microbial community

Purpose

The extract of Stevia residue is an ideal substitute for cultivation of the purple nonsulfur bacterium, like Rhodopseudomonas palustris (R. palustris). But the influence of R. palustris grown under residue extract on its downstream application is still not well-characterized. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of foliar spray of R. palustris grown under Stevia residue extract on the plant growth and soil microbial properties.

Materials and methods

A pot experiment was carried out under the greenhouse condition, consisting of four treatments varying in the sprayed substances: sterilized water (control), R. palustris grown under the chemical medium supplemented with L-tryptophan (SyT), R. palustris grown under Stevia residue extract supplemented with L-tryptophan (ExT), and R. palustris grown under Stevia residue extract supplemented with NH₄Cl (ExT). The net photosynthesis rate of the uppermost leaves was measured with a portable photosynthesis system. Soil microbial activity was analyzed by microcalorimetry. Soil bacterial community components were determined by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and high-throughput sequencing techniques.

Results and discussion

Compared with SyT, the R. palustris grown under Stevia residue extract not only improved the plant biomass and the net photosynthetic rate to a large extent, but also increased soil microbial metabolic activity and altered community compositions as well. The treatments receiving R. palustris, especially ExT and ExN, increased the relative abundances of some functional guilds involved in C turnover and nutrient cycling in soil, including Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Gemmatimonadaetes, Nitrospirae, and Planctomycetes.

Conclusions

R. palustris grown under the Stevia residue extract showed advantages over that under the chemical medium on both plant growth and soil microbial properties. One of the possible reasons could result from the increases in microbial activity and several bacterial keystone guilds involved into C and nutrient cycling, both of which potentially contribute to the improved plant growth. The results would be conducive to the downstream application of R. palustris in an economical way.

     

Survival of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> O157:H7 in various soil particles: importance of the attached bacterial phenotype

The risk of enteropathogens to food and water is highly dependent on their survival in soil environments. Here, the effects of soil type, particle size, the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) or Fe/Al (hydro)oxides on pathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7 survival in sterilized soil particles were assessed through survival, attachment, metabolic activity, and qRT-PCR analyses. The abundance of inoculated E. coli O157:H7 in Brown soil (Alfisol) particles increased 0.6–1.4 log₁₀ CFU/g within 3 days (except for NOM-stripped clay), while that in Red soil (Ultisol) particles decreased rapidly in 8 days post-inoculation. Additionally, survival of bacteria was significantly enhanced when Fe/Al (hydro)oxides had been removed from Red soil particles. For the two soils, E. coli O157:H7 survived the longest in NOM-present clays and the bacterial adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) levels were 0.7–2.0 times greater in clays than in sands and silts on day 8. Moreover, clays were more effective than silts and sands in binding cells and changing the expressions of acetate pathway-associated genes (pta and ackA). For silts and sands, E. coli O157:H7 decayed more rapidly in the presence of NOM and similar trends of bacterial ATP levels were observed between NOM-stripped and NOM-present soil particles, indicating that the primary role of NOM was not as a nutrient supply. These findings indicate that soil particles function mainly through attachment to change the metabolic pathway of E. coli O157:H7 and ultimately impact the survival of bacterial pathogens in soils.     

Long-term agronomic practices alter the composition of asymbiotic diazotrophic bacterial community and their nitrogen fixation genes in an acidic red soil

The asymbiotic diazotrophic bacteria are important for nitrogen (N) input to soil. Here, we investigated asymbiotic diazotrophic bacteria in an acidic red soil from functional, phylogenetic, and ecological perspectives. We firstly confirmed that phosphorus (P) availability determines the overall asymbiotic N fixation potential in the red soil. Then, we analyzed the soil bacterial community and N fixing (nifH) gene composition. Long-term different fertilizations significantly affected the composition of soil bacterial community. In addition, long-term organic cultivations increased most of the asymbiotic diazotrophic bacteria and the corresponding nifH gene abundances. Few asymbiotic diazotrophic bacteria, belonging to Chloroflexaceae, Methylocystaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and Pseudomonadaceae, and their corresponding nifH genes were more abundant in N and P co-limited than in not co-limited soils, suggesting that some bacterial taxa from these families might be activated under nutrient limited conditions. Our findings provided new information for the distribution of asymbiotic diazotrophic bacteria in red soil and gave insights into the ecology of diazotrophic bacteria.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Coumaric can alter the composition of cucumber rhizosphere microbial communities and induce negative plant-microbial interactions

Phenolics from root exudates or decaying residues are usually referred as autotoxins of several plant species. However, how phenolics affect soil microbial communities and their functional significances are poorly understood. Rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities from cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings treated with p-coumaric acid, an autotoxin of cucumber, were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer amplicons. Then, feedback effects of the rhizosphere biota on cucumber seedlings were evaluated by inoculating non-sterilized and sterilized rhizosphere soils to sterilized background soils. p-Coumaric acid decreased the bacterial diversity of rhizosphere but increased fungal diversity and altered the compositions of both the bacterial and fungal communities. p-Coumaric acid increased the relative abundances of microbial taxa with phenol-degrading capability (such as Chaetomium, Humicola, and Mortierella spp.) and microbial taxa which contained plant pathogens (such as Fusarium spp.). However, p-coumaric acid inhibited the relative abundances of Lysobacter, Haliangium, and Gymnoascus spp., whose species can have pathogen-antagonistic and/or plant-growth-promoting effects. The positive effect of cucumber rhizosphere microbiota on cucumber seedling growth was reduced by p-coumaric acid. Overall, our results showed that, besides its direct phytotoxicity, p-coumaric acid can inhibit cucumber seedling growth through generating negative plant-soil microbial interactions.     

Abundance and diversity of sulphur-oxidising bacteria and their role in oxidising elemental sulphur in cropping soils

There is an increasing interest in elemental S as a S fertiliser source, but to be available to plants, elemental S has to be oxidised to sulphate. Elemental S oxidation is known to be affected by soil properties and environmental conditions, but it is still unclear if elemental S oxidation is related to the abundance and diversity of S-oxidising bacteria in cropping soils. In this study, we investigated the abundance and diversity of S-oxidising bacteria by targeting a functional gene (soxB) and assessed their relationship with elemental S oxidation in ten cropping soils. Positive correlations between soil C, N and S contents on the one hand and the abundances of soxB and 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (rRNA) genes on the other suggested that the abundances of S oxidising bacteria in particular and of bacteria in general depend on soil C and nutrient supply. Both soxB and 16S rRNA gene abundances were significantly correlated with the oxidation rate of elemental S (P < 0.05). In addition, more than 80% of the variation in the oxidation rate of elemental S could be explained by the combination of soxB or 16S rRNA gene abundances and soil pH, suggesting that pH not only affected bacterial abundances but also their activity during elemental S oxidation. Clone libraries constructed with the soxB primers showed genera belonging to Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria. The phylogenetic diversity and relative distribution of soxB clones revealed great differences across soils. However, no direct linkage was found between the diversity of S-oxidising bacteria and elemental S oxidation rate.     

Abundance of transcripts of functional gene reflects the inverse relationship between CH<Subscript>4</Subscript> and N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O emissions during mid-season drainage in acidic paddy soil

Agricultural management significantly affects methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from paddy fields. However, little is known about the underlying microbiological mechanism. Field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of the water regime and straw incorporation on CH₄ and N₂O emissions and soil properties. Quantitative PCR was applied to measure the abundance of soil methanogens, methane-oxidising bacteria, nitrifiers, and denitrifiers according to DNA and mRNA expression levels of microbial genes, including mcrA, pmoA, amoA, and nirK/nirS/nosZ. Field trials showed that the CH₄ and N₂O flux rates were negatively correlated with each other, and N₂O emissions were far lower than CH₄ emissions. Drainage and straw incorporation affected functional gene abundance through altered soil environment. The present (DNA-level) gene abundances of amoA, nosZ, and mcrA were higher with straw incorporation than those without straw incorporation, and they were positively correlated with high concentrations of soil exchangeable NH₄⁺ and dissolved organic carbon. The active (mRNA-level) gene abundance of mcrA was lower in the drainage treatment than in continuous flooding, which was negatively correlated with soil redox potential (Eh). The CH₄ flux rate was significantly and positively correlated with active mcrA abundance but negatively correlated with Eh. The N₂O flux rate was significantly and positively correlated with present and active nirS abundance and positively correlated with soil Eh. Thus, we demonstrated that active gene abundance, such as of mcrA for CH₄ and nirS for N₂O, reflects the contradictory relationship between CH₄ and N₂O emissions regulated by soil Eh in acidic paddy soils.     

Combined bioremediation of soil co-contaminated with cadmium and endosulfan by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus eryngii</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coprinus comatus</Emphasis>

Purpose

The subjects of this study were to investigate the remediating potential of the co-cultivation of Pleurotus eryngii and Coprinus comatus on soil that is co-contaminated with heavy metal (cadmium (Cd)) and organic pollutant (endosulfan), and the effects of the co-cultivated mushrooms on soil biochemical indicators, such as laccase enzyme activity and bacterial counts.

Materials and methods

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the combined bioremediation effects on co-contaminated soil. After the mature fruiting bodies were harvested from each pot, the biomass of mushrooms was recorded. In addition, bacterial counts and laccase enzyme activity in soil were determined. The content of Cd in mushrooms and soil was detected by the flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), and the variations of Cd fractions in soil were determined following the modified BCR sequential extraction procedure. Besides, the residual endosulfan in soil was detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Results and discussion

The results indicated that co-cultivation of P. eryngii and C. comatus exerted the best remediation effect on the co-contaminated soil. The biomass of mushroom in the co-cultivated group (T group) was 1.57–13.20 and 19.75–56.64% higher than the group individually cultivated with P. eryngii (P group) or C. comatus (C group), respectively. The concentrations of Cd in the fruiting bodies of mushrooms were 1.83–3.06, 1.04–2.28, and 0.67–2.60 mg/kg in T, P, and C groups, respectively. Besides, the removal rates of endosulfan in all treatments exceeded 87%. The best bioremediation effect in T group might be caused by the mutual promotion of these two kinds of mushrooms.

Conclusions

The biomass of mushroom, laccase activity, bacterial counts, and Cd content in mushrooms were significantly enhanced, and the dissipation effect of endosulfan was slightly higher in the co-cultivated group than in the individually cultivated groups. In this study, the effect of co-cultivated macro fungi P. eryngii and C. comatus on the remediation of Cd and endosulfan co-contaminated soil was firstly reported, and the results are important for a better understanding of the co-remediation for co-contaminated soil.

     

Contrasting response of two grassland soils to N addition and moisture levels: N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O emission and functional gene abundance

Purpose

Nitrification and denitrification processes dominate nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission in grassland ecosystems, but their relative contribution as well as the abiotic factors are still not well understood.

Materials and methods

Two grassland soils from Duolun in Inner Mongolia, China, and Canterbury in New Zealand were used to quantitatively compare N₂O production and the abundance of bacterial and archaeal amoA, denitrifying nirK and nirS genes in response to N additions (0 and 100 μg NH₄ ⁺–N g^?1 dry soil) and two soil moisture levels (40 and 80 % water holding capacity) using microcosms.

Results and discussion

Soil moisture rather than N availability significantly increased the nitrification rate in the Duolun soil but not in the Canterbury soil. Moreover, N addition promoted denitrification enzyme activities in the Canterbury soil but not in the Duolun soil. The abundance of bacterial and archaeal amoA genes significantly increased as soil moisture increased in the Duolun soil, whereas in the Canterbury soil, only the abundance of bacterial amoA gene increased. The increase in N₂O flux induced by N addition was significantly greater in the Duolun soil than in the Canterbury soil, suggesting that nitrification may have a dominant role in N₂O emission for the Duolun soil, while denitrification for the Canterbury soil.

Conclusions

Microbial processes controlling N₂O emission differed in grassland soils, thus providing important baseline data in terms of global change.

     

Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Silene vulgaris</Emphasis> and Heavy Metal Pollution on Soil Microbial Diversity in Long-Term Contaminated Soil

In this study, we analysed the impact of heavy metals and plant rhizodeposition on the structure of indigenous microbial communities in rhizosphere and bulk soil that had been exposed to heavy metals for more than 150 years. Samples of the rhizosphere of Silene vulgaris and non-rhizosphere soils 250 and 450 m from the source of emission that had different metal concentrations were collected for analyses. The results showed that soils were collected 250 m from the smelter had a higher number of Cd-resistant CFU compared with the samples that were collected from 450 m, but no significant differences were observed in the number of total and oligotrophic CFU or the equivalent cell numbers between rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils that were taken 250 and 450 m from the emitter. Unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) cluster analysis of the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles, as well as a cluster analysis that was generated on the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles, showed that the bacterial community structure of rhizosphere soils depended more on the plant than on the distance and metal concentrations. The sequencing of the 16S rDNA fragments that were excised from the DGGE gel revealed representatives of the phyla Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Actinobacteria and Betaproteobacteria in the analysed soil with a predominance of the first three groups. The obtained results demonstrated that the presence of S. vulgaris did not affect the number of CFUs, except for those of Cd-resistant bacteria. However, the presence of S. vulgaris altered the soil bacterial community structure, regardless of the sampling site, which supported the thesis that plants have a higher impact on soil microbial community than metal contamination.     

The impact of adsorption on the exposure assessment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus thuringiensis</Emphasis> in the water-sediment system: a mathematical model approach

A model to assess the environmental fate of bacteria to be used as plant protection products or biocides is presented. The model, based on a black-box approach, takes into account the bacterial cell adsorption on the sediment phase and the degradation kinetics and allows the calculation of the expected environmental density of bacterial cells and the predicted environmental concentration of bacterial toxins in the water-sediment system. An example of calculation results is reported for the study cases of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai strain GC-91, B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki strain ABTS-351, and B. thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis strain NB 176, used as plant protection products, and B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis strains AM 65–52 and SA3A, used as biocides. The calculation of expected environmental density and predicted environmental concentration for bacteria in soil-water systems allows to achieve an appropriate risk assessment of the environmental fate and of the impact of bacterial pest control agents or bacterial biocides on non-target organisms.     

Long-term fertilisation regimes affect the composition of the alkaline phosphomonoesterase encoding microbial community of a vertisol and its derivative soil fractions

Alkaline phosphomonoesterase (ALP) mainly originates from soil microbial secretion and plays a crucial role in the turnover of soil phosphorus (P). To examine the response of ALP-encoding microbial communities (analysed for the biomarker of the ALP gene, phoD) of soils and derivative soil fractions to different fertilisation regimes, soil samples were collected from a long-term experimental field (over 35 years). The different organic P (Po) pools of soil fractions and the ALP activity of soil were also determined. Compared with chemical-only fertilised soils, the ALP activity was 232–815% higher in organic-amended soils, and the highest enzyme activity was observed in the organic-only fertilised treatment. The abundance of the phoD gene harbouring in soil fractions, determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR), was affected by different fertilisations. The highest abundance of the phoD gene was generally detected in the 2–63-μm-sized fraction (silt), but most phoD-encoding microbial species were associated to the 0.1–2-μm-sized fraction (clay) in the chemical-only fertilised soil. The contents of labile Po (LPo), moderately labile Po (MLPo) and fulvic acid-associated Po (FAPo) were significantly correlated with the phoD gene abundance, whereas only LPo content was significantly correlated with the ALP activity. The dominant phoD-encoding phylas were Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria, according to a high-throughput sequencing. Bradyrhizobium, a N₂-fixer identified as a phoD-encoding genus, showed the highest abundance in fertilised soils. The abundance of Bradyrhizobium, Streptomyces, Modestobacter, Lysobacter, Frankia and Burkholderia increased with the organic-only amendment and was significantly correlated with the ALP activity. According to structure equation models (SEM), pH and LPo content significantly and directly affected the ALP activity; the soil organic C (C_org) content was related to composition and abundances of phoD-harbouring microbial communities; since both microbial properties were correlated to the ALP activity, the C_org content was indirectly related to the ALP activity. In conclusion, soil management practices can be used to optimise the contents of soil available P and the organic P with regulation of soil ALP activity and the community composition of corresponding microbes.     

Quantitative indices of the distribution of substances in the soil-plant system

New methodological approaches and an algorithm for the quantitative assessment of accumulating a substance by a plant (C _p ) with due regard for its concentration in the soil (C _n ) are proposed. The first approach is the approximation of concentration curves by the functions C _p = f(C _n ) and their parameters. The second one is the standardization of the coefficients of biological sorption (K _b ) of a substance upon its stable concentration in the soil using the function K _b = f(C _n ). As compared to the variation-statistical values of the mean and extreme concentrations, or the coefficients K _b , the proposed parameters are characterized by a higher accuracy and sensitivity. They may be successfully used for quantitative studies of the mechanism and the intensity of the absorption of substances by plants, for the prediction of the accumulation of substances in the trophic chain, and the assessment of soil self-purification (detoxification) and comparative ratings.     

Application of compost and clay under water-stressed conditions influences functional diversity of rhizosphere bacteria

Applications of compost and clay to ameliorate soil constraints such as water stress are potential management strategies for sandy agricultural soils. Water repellent sandy soils in rain-fed agricultural systems limit production and have negative environmental effects associated with leaching and soil erosion. The aim was to determine whether compost and clay amendments in a sandy agricultural soil influenced the rhizosphere microbiome of Trifolium subterraneum under differing water regimes. Soil was amended with compost (2% w/w), clay (5% w/w) and a combination of both, in a glasshouse experiment with well-watered and water-stressed (70 and 35% field capacity) treatments. Ion Torrent 16S rRNA sequencing and Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) analysis of functional gene prediction were used to characterise the rhizosphere bacterial community and its functional component involved in nitrogen (N) cycling and soil carbon (C) degradation. Compost soil treatments increased the relative abundance of copiotrophic bacteria, decreased labile C and increased the abundance of recalcitrant C degrading genes. Predicted N cycling genes increased with the addition of clay (N₂ fixation, nitrification, denitrification) and compost + clay (N₂ fixation, denitrification) and decreased with compost (for denitrification) amendment. Water stress did not alter the relative abundance of phylum level taxa in the presence of compost, although copiotrophic Actinobacteria increased in relative abundance with addition of clay and with compost + clay. A significant role of compost and clay under water stress in influencing the composition of rhizosphere bacteria and their implications for N cycling and C degradation was demonstrated.     

Effects of cover crop in an apple orchard on microbial community composition,networks, and potential genes involved with degradation of crop residues in soil

Changes in the soil microbial communities and networks were monitored after planting the cover crop for 9 years. The field experiment included plots with a cover crop and without a cover crop but with weed control, and two subplots with or without chemical fertilizer (192 kg N ha^?1, 108 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1, and 168 kg K₂O ha^?1 each year). After applying the cover crop and chemical fertilizer for 9 years, the composition and activity of bacterial and fungal communities changed significantly (p?<?0.05), with the cover crop had greater effects than the chemical fertilizer on the composition of the soil microbial community. The relative abundances of 22 selected genera (in Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes) and two selected classes (Ascomycota) related to cover crop residue degradation increased significantly in the presence of the cover crop (p?<?0.05). Network analysis showed that the cover crop decreased the number of positive links between bacterial and fungal taxa by 25.33%, and increased the negative links by 22.89%. The positive links among bacterial taxa increased by 16.63% with the cover crop, mainly among Proteobacteria (increase of 39), Firmicutes (16), Actinobacteria (five), and Bacteroidetes (10). The links among fungal taxa were less than among bacterial taxa and were not significantly affected by cover crop. Taxa such as Thaumarchaeota, unidentified_Nitrospiraceae, unidentified_Nitrosomonadaceae, Faecalibacterium, Coprococcus_3, and Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group dominated the network without the cover crop but they were not dominant with the cover crop. The relative abundances of potential genes involved with the degradation of cellulose, hemicellulose, and cello-oligosaccharides increased significantly with the cover crop. Therefore, the SOC and TN contents were enhanced by the cover crop with the increase of the soil enzyme activities. Thus, the apple yield was improved by the cover crop.     

Effect of humic acids on the metabolism of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlorella vulgaris</Emphasis> in a model experiment

The effect of humic acids (HAs) on physiological processes (photosynthesis, respiration, and abundance) of green microalga Chlorella vulgaris has been studied, and the relationships between the physiological activity of HAs and their structural parameters have been investigated. It has been found that the optimum range of HA concentrations for the growth of C. vulgaris is 0.01–0.03%. In this range, the highest positive effect on total photosynthesis increment is due to hydrophilic HA preparations from fallow soddypodzolic soil (Albic Retisol) and virgin gray soil (Luvic Greyzemic Phaeozem). The minimum stimulation of respiration is noted for all HA preparations in the region of the maximum photosynthesis stimulation. At concentrations above 0.003%, all HA preparations have a negative effect: the rate of photosynthesis in C. vulgaris cells decreases, and their respiration is strongly enhanced. The abundance of C. vulgaris under the effect of all of the studied preparations under illumination increases more rapidly than in the dark. A high positive coefficient of correlation is found between the hydrophilicity of HAs calculated from ¹³C NMR data and the photosynthesis rate in C. vulgaris.     

The effect of acidity on the distribution and symbiotic efficiency of rhizobia in Lithuanian soils

The distribution and symbiotic efficiency of nodule bacteria Rhizobium leguminosarum_bv. trifolii F., Sinorhizobium meliloti D., Rhizobium galegae L., and Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae F. in Lithuanian soils as dependent on the soil acidity were studied in the long-term field, pot, and laboratory experiments. The critical and optimal pH values controlling the distribution of rhizobia and the symbiotic nitrogen fixation were determined for every bacterial species. The relationship was found between the soil pH and the nitrogen-fixing capacity of rhizobia. A positive effect of liming of acid soils in combination with inoculation of legumes on the efficiency of symbiotic nitrogen fixation was demonstrated.     

Tillage system affects fertilizer-induced nitrous oxide emissions

Since the development of effective N₂O mitigation options is a key challenge for future agricultural practice, we studied the interactive effect of tillage systems on fertilizer-derived N₂O emissions and the abundance of microbial communities involved in N₂O production and reduction. Soil samples from 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm depth of reduced tillage and ploughed plots were incubated with dairy slurry (SL) and manure compost (MC) in comparison with calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) and an unfertilized control (ZERO) for 42 days. N₂O and CO₂ fluxes, ammonium, nitrate, dissolved organic C, and functional gene abundances (16S rRNA gene, nirK, nirS, nosZ, bacterial and archaeal amoA) were regularly monitored. Averaged across all soil samples, N₂O emissions decreased in the order CAN and SL (CAN?=?748.8?±?206.3, SL?=?489.4?±?107.2 μg kg^?1) followed by MC (284.2?±?67.3 μg kg^?1) and ZERO (29.1?±?5.9 μg kg^?1). Highest cumulative N₂O emissions were found in 10–20 cm of the reduced tilled soil in CAN and SL. N₂O fluxes were assigned to ammonium as source in CAN and SL and correlated positively to bacterial amoA abundances. Additionally, nosZ abundances correlated negatively to N₂O fluxes in the organic fertilizer treatments. Soils showed a gradient in soil organic C, 16S rRNA, nirK, and nosZ with greater amounts in the 0–10 than 10–20 cm layer. Abundances of bacterial and archaeal amoA were higher in reduced tilled soil compared to ploughed soils. The study highlights that tillage system induced biophysicochemical stratification impacts net N₂O emissions within the soil profile according to N and C species added during fertilization.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma</Emphasis> improves the growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leymus chinensis</Emphasis>

Bio-fertilizer application has been proposed as a strategy for enhancing soil fertility, regulating soil microflora composition, and improving crop yields, and it has been widely applied in the agricultural yields. However, the application of bio-fertilizer in grassland has been poorly studied. We conducted in situ and pot experiments to investigate the practical effects of different fertilization regimes on Leymus chinensis growth, with a focus on the potential microecological mechanisms underlying the responses of soil microbial composition. L. chinensis biomass was significantly (P?<?0.05) increased by treatment with 6000 kg ha^?1 of Trichoderma bio-fertilizer compared with other treatments. We found a positive (R² =?0.6274, P <?0.001) correlation between bacterial alpha diversity and L. chinensis biomass. Hierarchical cluster analysis and nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) revealed that soil bacterial and fungal community compositions were all separated according to the fertilization regime used. The relative abundance of the most beneficial genera in bio-fertilizer (BOF) (6000 kg ha^?1Trichoderma bio-fertilizer) was significantly higher than in organic fertilizer (OF) (6000 kg ha^?1 organic fertilizer) or in CK (non-amend fertilizer), there the potential pathogenic genera were reduced. There were significant negative (P?<?0.05) correlations between L. chinensis biomass and the relative abundance of several potential pathogenic genera. However, the relative abundance of most beneficial genera were significantly (P?<?0.05) positively correlated with L. chinensis biomass. Soil properties had different effects on these beneficial and on these pathogenic genera, further influencing L. chinensis biomass.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi optimize the acquisition and translocation of Cd and P by cucumber (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis sativus</Emphasis> L.) plant cultivated on a Cd-contaminated soil

Purpose

Fruiting vegetables are generally considered to be safer than other vegetables for planting on cadmium (Cd)-contaminated farms. However, the risk of transferring Cd that has accumulated in the stems and leaves of fruiting vegetables is a major issue encountered with the usage of such non-edible parts. The objective of this study was to resolve the contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to the production of low-Cd fruiting vegetables (focusing on the non-edible parts) on Cd-contaminated fields.

Materials and methods

An 8-week pot experiment was conducted to investigate the acquisition and translocation of Cd by cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants on an unsterilized Cd-contaminated (1.6 mg kg^?1) soil in response to inoculation with the AM fungus, Funneliformis caledonium (Fc) or Glomus versiforme (Gv). Mycorrhizal colonization rates of cucumber roots were assessed. Dry biomass and Cd and phosphorus (P) concentrations in the cucumber shoots and roots were all measured. Soil pH, EC, total Cd, phytoavailable (DTPA-extractable) Cd, available P, and acid phosphatase activity were also tested.

Results and discussion

Both Fc and Gv significantly increased (P?<?0.05) root mycorrhizal colonization rates and P acquisition efficiencies, and thus the total P acquisition and biomass of cucumber plants, whereas only Fc significantly increased (P?<?0.05) soil acid phosphatase activity and the available P concentration. Both Fc and Gv significantly increased (P?<?0.05) root to shoot P translocation factors, inducing significantly higher (P?<?0.05) shoot P concentrations and shoot/root biomass ratios. In contrast, both Fc and Gv significantly decreased (P?<?0.05) root and shoot Cd concentrations, resulting in significantly increased (P?<?0.05) P/Cd concentration ratios, whereas only Gv significantly decreased (P?<?0.05) the root Cd acquisition efficiency and increased (P?<?0.05) the root to shoot Cd translocation factor. Additionally, AM fungi also tended to decrease soil total and phytoavailable Cd concentrations by elevating plant total Cd acquisition and soil pH, respectively.

Conclusions

Inoculation with AM fungi increased the P acquisition and biomass of cucumber plants, but decreased plant Cd concentrations by reducing the root Cd acquisition efficiency, and resulted in a tendency toward decreases in soil phytoavailable and total Cd concentrations via increases in soil pH and total Cd acquisition by cucumber plants, respectively. These results demonstrate the potential application of AM fungi for the production of fruiting vegetables with non-edible parts that contain low Cd levels on Cd-contaminated soils.

     

Heterotrophic Bacterial Leaching of Zinc and Arsenic from Artificial Adamite

Artificial adamite [Zn₂(AsO₄)(OH)] is a convenient structural model because it is isostructural with other rock-forming minerals in secondary ore deposits formed in cementation zones. Microbial activity in these zones accelerates mineral biogeochemical deterioration and metal release, and our results confirmed that Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus and Cupriavidus strains accelerate adamite leaching by 10 to 465 times compared to controls. Here, the Pseudomonas chlororaphis ZK-1 bacterial strain in a static 42-day cultivation proved more effective than Rhodococcus and Cupriavidus by leaching over 90% arsenic and 10% zinc from adamite in one-step in vitro. We evaluated adamite with the VESTA visualization system for electronic and structural analysis, and our results enhance understanding of zinc and arsenic biogeochemical cycles and mobilization, and highlight bacteria’s beneficial natural and biotechnological application in environmental geochemistry and biohydrometallurgy.