Phyllostachys edulis (moso bamboo) rhizosphere increasing soil microbial activity rather than biomass

Purpose

Rhizosphere and fertilization might affect soil microbial activities, biomass, and community. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of Phyllostachys edulis (moso bamboo) rhizospheres on soil nutrient contents and microbial properties in a moso bamboo forest with different fertilizer applications and to link soil microbial activities with abiotic and biotic factors.

Materials and methods

The experiment included three treatments: (1) application of 45% slag fertilizer (45%-SF); (2) application of special compound fertilizer for bamboos (SCF); and (3) the control without any fertilizer application (CK). Simultaneously, bulk soils and 0.5, 2.5, 4.5, and 6.5-year-old (y) bamboo rhizosphere soils were selected. Soil nutrient contents were analyzed. Microbial activities were evaluated based on the activities of soil enzymes including β-glucosidase, urease, protease, phosphatase, and catalase. The total microbial biomass and community were assessed with the phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) method.

Results and discussion

In the CK and SCF treatments, organic matter contents of rhizosphere soils were significantly higher than those of bulk soils. Soil β-glucosidase, urease, protease, phosphatase, and catalase activities in rhizosphere soils were higher than those of bulk soils, with the sole exception of β-glucosidase of 0.5 y rhizosphere soil in the 45%-SF treatment. Compared with the CK treatment, fertilizer applications tended to increase soil total PLFAs contents and changed soil microbial community. Moso bamboo rhizospheres did not significantly increase the total microbial biomass. In the SCF treatment, the Shannon index of bulk soil was significantly lower than those of rhizosphere soils.

Conclusions

Our results suggested that both rhizospheres and fertilizer applications could change the soil microbial community structures and that moso bamboo rhizosphere could increase microbial activity rather than biomass in the forest soils with different fertilizer applications.

     

Rhizosphere isoflavones (daidzein and genistein) levels and their relation to the microbial community structure of mono-cropped soybean soil in field and controlled conditions

Despite an increase in the understanding of the soybean isoflavones involved in root-colonizing symbioses, relatively little is known about their levels in the rhizosphere and their interactions with the soil microbial community. Based on a 13-year experiment of continuous soybean monocultures, in the present study we quantified isoflavones in the soybean rhizosphere and analyzed the soil microbial community structure by examining its phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profile. Two isoflavones, daidzein (7, 4′-dihydroxyisoflavone) and genistein (5,7,4′- trihydroxyisoflavone), were detected in the rhizosphere soil of soybean plants, with the concentrations in the field varying with duration of mono-cropping. Genistein concentrations ranged from 0.4 to 1.2 μg g⁻¹ dry soil over different years, while daidzein concentrations rarely exceeded 0.6 μg g⁻¹ dry soil. PLFA profiling showed that the signature lipid biomarkers of bacteria and fungi varied throughout the years of the study, particularly in mono-cropping year 2, and mono-cropping years 6-8. Principal component analysis clearly identified differences in the composition of PLFA during different years under mono-cropping. There was a positive correlation between the daidzein concentrations and soil fungi, whereas the genistein concentration showed a correlation with the total PLFA, fungi, bacteria, Gram (+) bacteria and aerobic bacteria in the soil microbial community. Both isoflavones were easily degraded in soil, resulting in short half-lives. Concentrations as small as 1 μg g⁻¹ dry soil were sufficient to elicit changes in microbial community structure. A discriminant analysis of PLFA patterns showed that changes in microbial community structures were induced by both the addition of daidzein or genistein and incubation time. We conclude that daidzein and genistein released into the soybean rhizosphere may act as allelochemicals in the interactions between root and soil microbial community in a long-term mono-cropped soybean field.     

Identification of Metabolically Active Rhizosphere Microorganisms by Stable Isotopic Probing of PLFA in Switchgrass

Root-derived rhizodeposits of recent photosynthetic carbon (C) are the foremost source of energy for microbial growth and development in rhizosphere soil. A substantial amount of photosynthesized C by the plants is translocated to belowground and is released as root exudates that influence the structure and function of soil microbial communities with potential inference in nutrient and C cycling in the ecosystem. We applied the ¹³C pulse chase labeling technique to evaluate the incorporation of rhizodeposit-C into the phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) in the bulk and rhizosphere soils of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Soil samples of bulk and rhizosphere were taken at 1, 5, 10 and 20 days after labeling and analyzed for ¹³C enrichment in the microbial PLFAs. Temporal differences of ¹³C enrichment in PLFAs were more prominent than spatial differences. Among the microbial PLFA biomarkers, fungi and Gram-negative (GM-ve) bacterial PLFAs showed rapid enrichment with ¹³C compared to Gram-positive (GM+ve) and actinomycetes in rhizosphere soil. The ¹³C enrichment of actinomycetes biomarker PLFA significantly increased along with sampling time in both soils. PLFAs indicative to fungi, GM-ve and GM+ve showed a significant decrease in ¹³C enrichment over sampling time in the rhizosphere, but a decrease was also observed in GM-ve (16:1ω5c) and fungal biomarker PLFAs in the bulk soil. The relative ¹³C concentration in fungal PLFA decreased on day 10, whereas those of GM-ve increased on day 5 and GM+ve remained constant in the rhizosphere soil. However, the relative ¹³C concentrations of GM-ve and GM+ve increased on days 5 and 10, respectively, and those of fungal remain constant in the bulk soil. The present study demonstrates the usefulness of ¹³C pulse chase labeling together with PLFA analysis to evaluate the active involvement of microbial community groups for utilizing rhizodeposit-C.     

Structure and function of microbial communities in the rhizosphere of Scots pine after tree-felling

We evaluated changes occurring in the rhizosphere microbial communities of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) due to tree-felling and decrease of the photosynthetic C flow into the soil under field conditions over one growing season. Samples were taken from tree rhizospheres, freshly felled stump rhizospheres and bulk soil. We used culture dependent (CFU counts, community level physiological profiles, CLPPs) and independent methods (fluorogenic MUF-substrates, PLFA pattern and PCR-DGGE) to monitor the microbial communities in soil samples. The numbers of cultivable bacteria and amounts of phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere of trees were significantly higher compared with those in the bulk soil. The organic C consuming community measured by CLPP was stimulated directly after the tree-felling in stump rhizospheres; utilization of the disintegration components of cellulose, hemicellulose and chitin increased. Furthermore, bacterial and fungal biomass as well as chitin decomposers (CFU) increased in the stump rhizosphere. After 11 weeks of tree-felling the stump rhizosphere soluble PO₄-P and NH₄-N as well as amounts of total C and N began to resemble the concentrations measured in the bulk soil. However, the stump rhizosphere community structure detected by PLFA and PCR-DGGE still resembled that of the tree rhizosphere.     

Reclamation of lignite mine areas with Triticum aestivum: The dynamics of soil functions and microbial communities

In this paper is studied the dynamics of the soil microbial structure and function, and enzymatic activities during a chronosequence (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 years) after reclamation of coal mine areas with wheat (Triticum aestivum). Due to the homogeneity induced by monoculture all over the sites, similarity in the dynamics of structural and functional soil attributes was expected. Moreover, the idea of Whisenant (2002) claiming non monotonic succession unfolding during the reclamation process was checked. Soil samples were collected from the upper 12 cm of cultivated fields differing in their post-reclamation age, and they were analyzed for physicochemical variables, microbial community structure (PLFAs), catabolic profiles (Biolog Ecoplates) and enzymatic activities (β-glucosidase, urease and alkaline phosphatase). Fields outside the mine area, cultivated with the same species were used as controls. Exhibiting rapid growth from 0 to 4–5 years after reclamation, slow decline from 5 to 10 years and stabilization after 10 years, the abundances of the microbial groups (Gram⁺, Gram⁻, fungi, protozoa) showed similar dynamics. Similar dynamics displayed also the activity of alkaline phosphatase and β-glucosidase, which increased gradually from 0 to 10 years and stabilized afterwards. By contrast, the activity of urease showed an inverse temporal pattern. After 15 years, the microbial abundances, the functional diversity (Shannon index), and the soil enzymatic activities of the reclaimed soils converged to values recorded in the controls fields. Significant shifts in the microbial community structure were not detected, probably because of the type of reclamation (agricultural use). However, when the overall PLFA and carbon utilization data sets were analyzed, it was revealed that the microbial community structure changed non monotonically in the transition between 0 and 5 years after reclamation, while the carbon utilization profiles exhibited more complex successional patterns. Above findings support the idea of non monotonic successional processes in soil microbial communities.     

Soil microbial community responses to sulfadiazine-contaminated manure in different soil microhabitats

Veterinary antibiotics such as sulfadiazine (SDZ) are applied with manure to agricultural soil. Antimicrobial effects of SDZ on soil microbial community structures and functions were reported for homogenized bulk soils. In contrast, field soil is structured. The resulting microhabitats are often hot spots that account for most of the microbial activity and contain strains of different antibiotic sensitivity or resilience. We therefore hypothesize that effects of SDZ are different in diverse soil microhabitats. We combined the results of laboratory and field experiments that evaluated the fate of SDZ and the response of the microbial community in rhizosphere, earthworm burrow, and soil macroaggregate microhabitats. Microbial communities were characterized by phenotypic phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and genotypic 16S rRNA gene patterns (DGGE) and other methods. Data was evaluated by principle component analyses followed by two-way ANOVA with post-hoc tests. Extractable SDZ concentrations in rhizosphere soil were not clearly different and varied by a factor 0.7–1.2 from those in bulk soil. In contrast to bulk soil, the extractable SDZ content was two-fold larger in earthworm burrows, which are characterized by a more hydrophobic organic matter along the burrow surface. Also, extractable SDZ was larger by up to factor 2.6 in the macroaggregate surface soil. The rhizosphere effect clearly increased the microbial biomass. Nonetheless, in the 10 mg SDZ kg⁻¹ treatment, the biomass deceased by about 20% to the level of uncontaminated bulk soil. SDZ contamination lowered the total PLFA concentrations by 14% in the rhizosphere and 3% in bulk soil of the field experiment. Structural shifts represented by Pseudomonas DGGE data were larger in SDZ-contaminated earthworm burrows compared to bulk soils. In the laboratory experiment, a functional shift was indicated by a four-fold reduced acid phosphatase activity in SDZ-contaminated burrows compared to bulk soil. Structural and functional shifts after SDZ contamination were larger by a factor of 2.5 in the soil macroaggregate surface versus interior, but this relation reversed over the long-term under field conditions. Overall, the combined effects of soil microhabitat, microbial community composition, and exposure to SDZ influenced the microbial susceptibility towards antibiotics under laboratory and field conditions.     

Linking Microbial Community Dynamics Associated with Rhizosphere Carbon Flow in a Biofuel Crop (Jatropha curcas L.)

Photosynthetically derived rhizodeposits are an important source of carbon (C) for microbes in root vicinity and can influence the microbial community dynamics. Pulse labeling of carbon dioxide (¹³CO₂) coupled with stable isotope probing techniques have potential to track recently fixed photosynthate into rhizosphere microbial taxa. Therefore, the present investigation assessed the microbial community change associated with the rhizosphere and bulk soil in Jatropha curcas L. (a biofuel crop) by combining phospholipid fatty acid (¹³C-PLFA) profiling using a stable isotope ¹³CO₂ labeling approach. The labeling (¹³C) took place after 45 days of germination, PLFAs were extracted from both soils (rhizosphere and bulk) after 1 and 20 days pulse labeling and analyzed by gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry. There was no significant temporal effect on the PLFA profiles in the bulk soil, but significantly increased abundance of Gram positive (i15:0) and Gram negative (16:1ω7c and 16:1ω5c) biomarkers was observed in the rhizosphere soil from day 1 to day 20 after labeling. The Gram negative (16:1ω7c) decreased and fungal (18:2ω6,9c) increased significantly in rhizospheric soil compared to bulk soil after day 1 of labeling. Whereas, after 20 days of labeling, the Gram negative biomarker (16:1ω7c and 18:1ω7c) decreased and Gram positive (a15:0) increased significantly in rhizospheric soil compared to bulk soil. One day following labeling, i15:0, a15:0, i16:0, 16:1ω5c, 16:0, i17:0, a17:0, 18:2ω6,9c, 18:1ω9c, and 18:0 PLFAs were significantly more enriched in δ¹³C in the rhizosphere than in the bulk soil. Twenty days after labeling, 16:1ω5c (Gram negative) and 18:2ω6,9c (fungal) were significantly more enriched in δ¹³C in the rhizosphere than in the bulk soil. These results shows the effectives of PLFA coupled using the pulse chase labeling technique to examine the microbial community changes in response to recently fixed photosynthetic C flow in rhizodeposits.     

Influence of introduced potential biocontrol agents on maize seedling growth and bacterial community structure in the rhizosphere

Two species of Pseudomonas chromosomally tagged with gfp, which had shown antagonistic activity against the tomato pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum in a previous study, were assessed for their impact in the rhizosphere of maize. Plant growth characteristics, numbers of indigenous heterotrophic bacteria, changes in the bacterial community structure according to the r/K strategy concept, and shifts in MIDI-FAME profiles of culturable bacterial fractions as well as total rhizosphere microbial communities were determined in relation to seed and soil treatment with the exogenous pseudomonads. The maize rhizosphere proved to be a suitable habitat for the introduced P. chlororaphis IDV1 and P. putida RA2, which showed good survival after introduction. However, both inoculants showed a small growth-reducing effect towards maize, which might have been caused by the high densities of inoculants used (i.e. competition for nutrients and action of metabolites produced) and/or changes in microbial community structure (both culturable bacterial fraction and the total microflora). Probably, an altered balance among the indigenous maize rhizosphere populations occurred. Thus, the culturable bacteria, as well as the total microflora in the rhizosphere, changed in response to the introduced pseudomonads, and their development was dependent on the growth stage of the plant. The FAME analyses showed that these microbial communities comprised different populations, and were separated according to, first, the method used (direct versus cultivation-based), second, sampling time, and, finally, inoculation level.     

13C标记磷脂脂肪酸分析在土壤微生物生态 研究中的应用

磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)是微生物细胞膜的重要组成成分,不同微生物群落可通过不同生化途径合成不同的PLFA,因此可选择某些PLFA作为微生物群落结构变化的生物标志物。PLFA与稳定性同位素~(13)C标记(~(13)C-PLFA)技术结合,不仅能够确定原位土壤环境中微生物群落组成,而且能够定向发掘土壤生态系统中参与碳源代谢过程的微生物群落,提供复杂群落中土壤微生物相互作用的信息,具有广阔的应用前景。其基本原理为:将富集~(13)C稳定同位素的基质加入土壤中,土壤中的某些微生物群落利用基质~(13)C合成PLFA,提取并纯化土壤微生物的PLFA,利用气相色谱-燃烧-同位素比例质谱(GC-C-IRMS)测定其~(13)C丰度,通过对比分析,从而获取微生物群落组成与其功能的直接信息。本文在介绍了~(13)C-PLFA原理的基础上,综述了该技术在光合同化碳的根际微生物利用、土壤有机质分解的激发效应、甲烷氧化、有机污染物降解、外源简单碳源和外源复杂碳源的微生物利用等方面的应用,对此项技术的优缺点进行了分析并展望了其未来应用。     

Rhizosphere effect of three plant species of environment under periglacial conditions (Majella Massif,central Italy)

The chemical, physical and biological processes occurring in the rhizosphere can influence plant growth by modifying root associated microorganisms and nutrient cycles. Although rhizosphere has been widely investigated, little is known about the rhizosphere effect of pioneer plants in soils of periglacial environments. The knowledge of the processes controlling soil–plant relationships in these severe environments may help understanding the ecological evolution of newly deglaciated surfaces. We selected three plants [Helianthemum nummularium (L.) Mill. subsp. grandiflorum (Scop.), Dryas octopetala (L.), and Silene acaulis (L.) Jacq. subsp. cenisia (Vierh.) P. Fourn.] that sparsely occupy deglaciated areas of central Apennines (Italy), with the aim to assess changes between rhizosphere and bulk soil in terms of physical, chemical, and biological properties. The three plants considered showed to have different rhizosphere effect. Helianthemum induced a strong rhizosphere effect through a synergistic effect between root activity and a well adapted rhizosphere microbial community. Dryas did not foster a microbial community structure specifically designed for its rhizosphere, but consumes most of the energetic resources supplied by the plant to make nutrients available. Conversely to the other two species, Silene produced slight soil changes in the rhizosphere, where the microbial community had a structure, abundance and activity similar to those of the bulk soil. The ability to colonize harsh environments of Silene is probably linked to the shape and functions of its canopy rather than to a functional rhizosphere effect.This study showed that the rhizosphere effect differed by species also under high environmental pressure (periglacial conditions, poorly developed soil), and the activity of roots and associated microbial community is decisive in modifying the soil properties, so to create a suitable environment where plants are able to grow.     

Measurements of microbial community activities in individual soil macroaggregates

The functional potential of single soil macroaggregates may provide insights into the localized distribution of microbial activities better than traditional assays conducted on bulk quantities of soil. Thus, we scaled down enzyme assays for β-glucosidase, N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase, lipase, and leucine aminopeptidase to measure of the enzyme potential of individual macroaggregates (250–1000 μm diameter). Across all enzymes, the smallest macroaggregates had the greatest activity and the range of enzyme activities observed in all macroaggregates supports the hypothesis that functional potential in soil may be distributed in a patchy fashion. Paired analyses of ATP as a surrogate for active microbial biomass and β-glucosidase on the same macroaggregates suggest the presence of both extracellular β-glucosidase functioning in macroaggregates with no detectable ATP and also of relatively active microbial communities (high ATP) that have low β-glucosidase potentials. Studying function at a scale more consistent with microbial habitat presents greater opportunity to link microbial community structure to microbial community function.     

Long-term plant growth legacies overwhelm short-term plant growth effects on soil microbial community structure

Plant-soil feedbacks are gaining attention for their ability to determine plant community development. Plant-soil feedback models and research assume that plant-soil interactions occur within days to weeks, yet, little is known about how quickly and to what extent plants change soil community composition. We grew a dominant native plant (Pseudoroegneria spicata) and a dominant non-native plant (Centaurea diffusa) separately in both native- and non-native-cultivated field soils to test if these species could overcome soil legacies and create new soil communities in the short-term. Soil community composition before and after plant growth was assessed in bulk and rhizosphere soils using phospholipid fatty acid analyses. Nematode abundance and mycorrhizal colonization were also measured following plant growth. Field-collected, native-cultivated soils showed greater bacterial, Gram (−), fungal, and arbuscular mycorrhizal PLFA abundance and greater PLFA diversity than field-collected, non-native-cultivated soils. Both plant species grew larger in native- than non-native-cultivated soils, but neither plant affected microbial composition in the bulk or rhizosphere soils after two months. Plants also failed to change nematode abundance or mycorrhizal colonization. Plants, therefore, appear able to create microbial legacies that affect subsequent plant growth, but contrary to common assumptions, the species in this study are likely to require years to create these legacies. Our results are consistent with other studies that demonstrate long-term legacies in soil microbial communities and suggest that the development of plant-soil feedbacks should be viewed in this longer-term context.     

Distinct microbial and faunal communities and translocated carbon in Lumbricus terrestris drilospheres

Lumbricus terrestris is a deep-burrowing anecic earthworm that builds permanent, vertical burrows with linings (e.g., drilosphere) that are stable and long-lived microhabitats for bacteria, fungi, micro- and mesofauna. We conducted the first non-culture based field study to assess simultaneously the drilosphere (here sampled as 0–2 mm burrow lining) composition of microbial and micro/mesofaunal communities relative to bulk soil. Our study also included a treatment of surface-applied ¹³C- and ¹⁵N-labeled plant residue to trace the short-term (40 d) translocation of residue C and N into the drilosphere, and potentially the assimilation of residue C into drilosphere microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). Total C concentration was 23%, microbial PLFA biomass was 58%, and PLFAs associated with protozoa, nematodes, Collembola and other fauna were 200-to-300% greater in the drilosphere than in nearby bulk soil. Principal components analysis of community PLFAs revealed that distributions of Gram-negative bacteria and actinomycetes and other Gram-positive bacteria were highly variable among drilosphere samples, and that drilosphere communities were distinct from bulk soil communities due to the atypical distribution of PLFA biomarkers for micro- and mesofauna. The degree of microbial PLFA ¹³C enrichment in drilosphere soils receiving ¹³C-labeled residue was highly variable, and only one PLFA, 18:1ω9c, was significantly enriched. In contrast, 11 PLFAs from diverse microbial groups where enriched in response to residue amendment in bulk soil 0–5 cm deep. Among control soils, however, a significant δ¹³C shift between drilosphere and bulk soil at the same depth (5–15 cm) revealed the importance of L. terrestris for translocating perennial ryegrass-derived C into the soil at depth, where we estimated the contribution of the recent grass C (8 years) to be at least 26% of the drilosphere soil C. We conclude that L. terrestris facilitates the translocation of plant C into soil at depth and promotes the maintenance of distinct soil microbial and faunal communities that are unlike those found in the bulk soil.     

Conventional versus organic cropping and peat amendment: Impacts on soil microbiota and their activities

We measured soil microbiota and enzyme activities in order to compare conventional (CCS: chemical fertilisers, plant rotation with cereals dominating) and organic (OCS: green and farmyard manure, plant rotation including leguminous plants) cropping systems in a long-term field experiment. During the 3-year study period, strawberry was grown on the whole area and peat amendment was applied to a set of plots. Activities of 12 different enzymes, phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and microbial biomass (C_mic and N_mic) were measured twice each year. Dry weight (dw), water holding capacity (WHC) and pH were also measured. The enzyme activities were generally higher, arylsulphatase, phosphomonoesterase (PME) and esterase activities consistently, in the OCS than in the CCS. Other enzyme activities displayed higher activities either during 1 or 2 years or seasonally. Peat amendment increased PME, phosphodiesterase (PDE), leucine aminopeptidase (AP), chitinase, cellobiosidase, α-glucosidase and esterase activities but decreased arylsulphatase and initially alanine AP activities, whereas β-glucosidase and β-xylosidase activities were increased only during the 3rd year. Microbial biomass was higher in the OCS than in the CCS but peat addition decreased C_mic and N_mic at least initially. Both the OCS and peat addition increased soil PLFA content. Peat treatment also affected soil microbial structure as revealed by PLFA patterns, whereas the cropping system had no impact.     

外源铬对小白菜(Brassica chinensis L.)根际土壤微生物生物量和磷脂脂肪酸的剖面分布特征的影响

The effects of root activity on microbial response to cadmium （Cd） loading in the rhizosphere are not well understood. A pot experiment in greenhouse was conducted to investigate the effects of low Cd loading and root activity on microbial biomass and community structure in the rhizosphere of pakchoi （Brassica chinensis L.） on silty clay loam and silt loamy soil. Cd was added into soil as Cd（NO3）2 to reach concentrations ranging from 0.00 to 7.00 mg kg-1. The microbial biomass carbon （MBC） and community structure were affected by Cd concentration, root activity, and soil type. Lower Cd loading rates （〈 1.00 mg kg-1） stimulated the growth of pakchoi and microorganisms, but higher Cd concentrations inhibited the growth of microorganisms. The content of phospholipid fatty acids （PLFAs） was sensitive to increased Cd levels. MBC was linearly correlated with the total PLFAs. The content of general PLFAs in the fungi was positively correlated with the available Cd in the soil, whereas those in the bacteria and actinomycetes were negatively correlated with the available Cd in the soil. These results indicated that fungi were more resistant to Cd stress than bacteria or actinomycetes, and the latter was the most sensitive to Cd stress. Microbial biomass was more abundant in the rhizosphere than in the bulk soil. Root activity enhanced the growth of microorganisms and stabilized the microbial community structure in the rhizosphere. PLFA analysis was proven to be sensitive in detecting changes in the soil microbial community in response to Cd stress and root activity.     

Non-target effects of the microbial control agents Pseudomonas fluorescens DR54 and Clonostachys rosea IK726 in soils cropped with barley followed by sugar beet: a greenhouse assessment

Non-target effects of a bacterial (Pseudomonas fluorescens DR54) and a fungal (Clonostachys rosea IK726) microbial control agent (MCA), on the indigenous microbiota in bulk soil and rhizosphere of barley, and subsequent a sugar beet crop, were studied in a greenhouse experiment. MCAs were introduced by seed and soil inoculation. Bulk and rhizosphere soils were sampled regularly during the growth of barley and sugar beet. The soils were assayed for the fate of MCAs and various features of the indigenous soil microbiota. At the end of the experiment (193 d), DR54 and IK726 had declined by a factor of 10⁶ and 20, respectively, and DR54 showed a short-lasting growth increase in the sugar beet rhizosphere. In general, the non-target effects were small and transient. IK726 seemed to have general stimulating effects on soil enzyme activity and the soil microbiota, and resulted in a significant increase in plant dry weight. The plant growth-promoting effect of DR54 was less pronounced and the DR54 displaced indigenous pseudomonads. DR54 stimulated growth of protozoans with a tolerance for the anti-fungal compound viscosinamide produced by DR54. Treatment with the fungicide Fungazil had no effects on plant growth or soil microorganisms. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis detected the perturbations of the soil microbial community structure in the MCA treatments as well as the return to non- perturbed conditions reflecting the decline of inoculant populations. The PLFA technique appears to be suitable for in situ monitoring of MCA non-target effects on the soil microbiota, but should be combined with assays for MCA survival and soil enzyme activity.     

Changes in microbial communities and carbohydrate profiles induced by the mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus intraradices) in rhizosphere of olive trees (Olea europaea L.)

The influence of inoculation of olive trees with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, Glomus (G) intraradices, on microbial communities and sugar concentrations, were examined in rhizosphere of olive trees (Olea europaea L.). Analyses of phospholipid and neutral lipid fatty acids (PLFA and NLFA, respectively) were then used to detect changes in microbial community structure in response to inoculation of plantlets with G. intraradices.Microscopic observations studies revealed that the extraradical mycelium of the fungus showed formation of branched absorbing structures (BAS) in rhizosphere of olive tree. Root colonization with the AM fungi G. intraradices induced significant changes in the bacterial community structure of olive tree rhizosphere compared to non-mycorrhizal plants. The largest proportional increase was found for the fatty acid 10Me18:0, which indicated an increase in the number of actinomycetes in mycorrhizal rhizosphere soil, whereas the PLFAs i15:0, a15:0, i16:0, 16:1ω7 and cy17:0 which were used as indicators of bacteria decreased in mycorrhizal treatment compared to non-mycorrhizal control treatment. A highest concentration of glucose and trehalose and a lowest concentration of fructose, galactose, sucrose, raffinose and mannitol were detected in mycorrhizal rhizosphere soil. This mycorrhizal effect on rhizosphere communities may be a consequence of changes in characteristics in the environment close to mycorrhizal roots.     

Distribution and turnover of recently fixed photosynthate in ryegrass rhizospheres

The cycling of root-deposited photosynthate (rhizodeposition) through the soil microbial biomass can have profound influences on plant nutrient availability. Currently, our understanding of microbial dynamics associated with rhizosphere carbon (C) flow is limited. We used a ¹³C pulse-chase labeling procedure to examine the flow of photosynthetically fixed ¹³C into the microbial biomass of the bulk and rhizosphere soils of greenhouse-grown annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). To assess the temporal dynamics of rhizosphere C flow through the microbial biomass, plants were labeled either during the transition between active root growth and rapid shoot growth (Labeling Period 1), or nine days later during the rapid shoot growth stage (Labeling Period 2). Although the distribution of ¹³C in the plant/soil system was similar between the two labeling periods, microbial cycling of rhizodeposition differed between labeling periods. Within 24 h of labeling, more than 10% of the ¹³C retained in the plant/soil system resided in the soil, most of which had already been incorporated into the microbial biomass. From day 1 to day 8, the proportion of ¹³C in soil as microbial biomass declined from about 90 to 35% in rhizosphere soil and from about 80 to 30% in bulk soil. Turnover of ¹³C through the microbial biomass was faster in rhizosphere soil than in bulk soil, and faster in Labeling Period 1 than Labeling Period 2. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of using ¹³C labeling to examine microbial dynamics and fate of C associated with cycling of rhizodeposition from plants at different phenological stages of growth.     

Short-term effect of tillage and crop rotation on microbial community structure and enzyme activities of a clay loam soil

A field study was carried out to analyze the short-term (2 years) effect of tillage and crop rotation on microbial community structure and enzyme activities of a clay loam soil. The experimental design was a split-plot arrangement of treatments, consisting of two tillage treatments—ridge tillage (RT) and no-tillage (NT)—in combination with two crop rotation treatments—corn (Zea mays L.) monoculture and a 2-year corn-soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles were used to assess soil microbial community structure. No-tillage resulted in significantly higher total PLFAs compared to the RT treatment, which was accompanied by higher activities of protease, β-glucosaminidase, and β-glucosidase. This suggests a close link between soil microbial communities and enzyme activities in response to tillage. The increase of total microbial lipid biomass in the NT soils was due to the increase in both fungal and bacterial PLFAs. Crop rotation had little effect on soil bacterial communities and enzyme activities, but it significantly influenced soil fungal communities, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Soils under monoculture corn had higher fungal biomass than soils under corn-soybean rotation regardless of tillage treatment.