一株阿特拉津高效降解菌的分离与鉴定

在河北省宣化农药厂附近的土样中筛选到一株阿特拉津高效降解菌,高效液相色谱定量检测,证明降解率在99%以上,编号为ADX10,并对该菌进行了鉴定。结果表明,ADX10在LB培养基上产生光滑、圆形、微小、凸起的菌落,培养过程中产生柠檬绿色色素,幼体菌为短杆状(0.5~0.6μm×0.8~1.2μm),老龄培养物为球状,革兰氏染色为阳性,但极易退色,接触酶阳性,氧化酶阴性,液化明胶,脲酶阴性,不水解淀粉,不产生芽孢,37℃生长,好氧生长,对多种抗生素有抗性。16S rDNA聚类分析结合生理生化特性,将该菌株定为Arthrobactersp.。     

铜耐性优势植物根际土壤铜抗性菌株的筛选及其对铜的促溶作用

从铜矿废弃地重金属耐性优势植物根际土壤中分离筛选到两株抗高浓度Cu的细菌菌株HQN2和JYC17.对菌株HQN2和JYC17溶解难溶性Cu的作用进行了研究.结果表明:菌株HQN2和JYC17具有明显的溶解碳酸铜的能力,与接灭活菌对照相比,菌株HQN2和JYC17分别使培养液中水溶性Cu含量增加306%和136%,培养液的pH由初始的7.00分别降低到4.08和4.46.另外,Cu能促进供试菌株有机酸(葡萄糖酸、苹果酸和乙酸等)的合成.菌株HQN2和JYC17对土壤中难溶性Cu亦有明显的促溶作用.与接灭活菌对照相比,菌株JYC17和HQN2分别使土壤中交换态Cu含量增加110%和270%.经生理生化特征分析及16S rDNA序列分析,菌株HQN2和JYC17分别被鉴定为节杆菌属(Arthrobacter sp.)和微杆菌属(Microbacterium sp.).     

阿特拉津降解菌FM326（Arthrobacter sp.）的分离筛选、鉴定和生物学特性

采集除草剂阿特拉津污染的土壤,通过直接涂布法和富集驯化培养分离法,分别获得6株和5株能够降解阿特拉津的细菌。通过降解效率和降解动态试验,筛选到1株高效降解阿特拉津的菌株FM326,该菌株能以阿特拉津为唯一的碳源和氮源生长,培养96h后对1000mg·L-1阿特拉津降解效率达到97%。通过生理生化鉴定和16SrDNA序列分析,菌株FM326鉴定为节杆菌属（Arthrobacter sp.）细菌。该菌株表现出最适生长温度30～35℃,最适生长pH值5～9,好氧生长的生长特性。     

Sphingobium sp. JZ-1对菊酯类农药的降解特性研究

研究了菊酯降解菌株Sphingobium sp.JZ-1及其粗酶液对菊酯类农药的降解特性。结果表明,该菌能降解目前使用的各种菊酯类农药,降解速率顺序为:氯菊酯>甲氰菊酯≈氯氰菊酯>功夫菊酯>氰戊菊酯>溴氰菊酯>联苯菊酯;Sphingobium sp.JZ-1对菊酯的降解没有手性选择性;高效液相色谱检测结果表明Sphingobium sp.JZ-1对氯氰菊酯降解的初始反应是在菊酯水解酶的催化下羧酸酯键断裂生成二氯菊酸和3-苯氧基苯甲醛,3-苯氧基苯甲醛进一步氧化成苯氧基苯甲酸。Sphingobium sp.JZ-1细胞中菊酯水解酶酶活不需要菊酯的诱导。     

一株耐碳酸盐Bacillus属细菌的鉴定与特性分析

本研究从松嫩平原pH值在10.0以上、植物难以生存的斑块状裸地中分离到一株细菌SA-5,经鉴定该菌株为革兰氏染色阴性,杆状,接触酶阳性,氧化酶阴性,菌落呈橙黄色的好氧细菌,可水解淀粉。抗逆特性分析显示,菌株SA-5可在高达275mmol/L Na2CO3或pH 12.0以及2.0mol/L NaCl培养基中生长,中性条件下生长明显受到抑制,其中对碳酸盐的耐受性远高于普通植物。根据16SrDNA序列等分析结果显示,菌株SA-5属于Bacillus属,仅与菌株Bacillus aurantiacus K1-5T相似性最高,为99%,与其余已发表菌株均低于97%。由以上结果可见,菌株SA-5是Bacillus属中一株嗜碱耐盐菌,并且菌株SA-5对耐碳酸盐基因的开发具有潜在的价值。     

石油污染土壤中细菌的分离筛选

从辽河油田石油污染土壤中分离筛选得到59株细菌,并对其石油降解能力进行了研究。结果表明,大多数细菌具有较高的石油降解能力及脂酶活性,其中B-4、B-5、B-46、B-47四株细菌的石油降解率分别达到52.1%、55.4%、51.6%、59.3%。经初步鉴定B-5、B-46、B-47均属于微球菌属(Micrococcusspp.),B-4属于节杆菌属(Arthrobactersp.)。     

土壤微生物膜对风沙土固沙保水特性的影响

土壤微生物膜胞外聚合物具有较强的黏结性,为增强风沙土抗蚀性,提高风沙土保水性提供了新途径。鉴于此,该研究采用室内控制试验设置6个微生物菌剂施用水平(0、1、3、5、7和10 g/kg),以期阐明土壤微生物膜对风沙土特性的影响。研究结果表明:1)施用微生物菌剂可产生土壤微生物膜,并胶结风沙土颗粒。2)试验结束时(第49 d),与对照组相比,不同菌剂施用处理的土壤容重降低0.54%～8.88%,孔隙度提高0.39%～3.91%,含水率显著提高0.11%～0.25%(P0.05),大团聚体质量分数增加5.59%～25.01%,土壤pH值由7.16显著增加至8.32～9.23(P0.05)。3)土壤多糖含量对土壤特性的解释率为47%,是影响土壤特性的关键因素。土壤微生物膜能够有效改善风沙土特性,增强风沙土抗蚀性,提高风沙土保水性,但较高的微生物菌剂施用量会增加土壤pH值,造成土壤盐碱化,建议微生物菌剂施用水平为1～5 g/kg。研究成果有利于深入理解微生物膜固沙保水机制,并可为沙化土地防治新技术研发提供重要理论依据和科技支撑。     

基于高通量测序的木薯根域土壤微生物群落结构研究

为研究木薯根域土壤微生物群落结构,开展了根袋试验,处理包括2个木薯品种(华南205:SC205和桂热4号:GR4)和3个施肥处理(包括不施肥T1,普通施肥T3,施2倍氮肥T7),并进行了Illumina Hiseq高通量测序。结果表明,细菌优势群落为放线菌门(Actinobacteria,8.579%～10.697%),变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)等。根域土壤比非根际土壤相对富集变形菌门和10个细菌属;SC205根域的硝化螺旋菌门(Nitrospirae)、5个纲(δ变形菌纲等)和6个属(Flavisolibacter等)的相对丰度比GR4要高,但鞘脂杆菌纲则相反。真菌优势群落为子囊菌门(43.71%～59.79%)、毛霉门、担子菌门等。根域土壤施肥抑制壶菌门(Chytridiomycota)相对丰度。相对于根域土壤,T7提高了非根际土壤中的Agaricomycetes, Geminibasidiomycetes和Microbotryomycetes纲的相对丰度。T7比T1显著降低了根域土壤Chytridiomycetes纲的相对丰度。LEfSe结果表明:根域土壤施肥降低了哈茨木霉的相对丰度。α多样性结果表明:土壤细菌物种丰度顺序为T7 GR4T7 SC205和T7 soil。T3真菌物种丰度比T7高,T7真菌Chao1指标比T1低。结论:GR4根域土壤细菌物种丰度、硝化螺旋菌门和5个纲、6个属的相对丰度都小于SC205,品种间细菌差异暗示氮转化过程和根系分泌物的差异。施肥降低了真菌物种丰度。壶菌门和4个真菌纲、哈茨木霉受施肥或根系影响,暗示它们与肥料或者根系分泌物的交互作用。本研究为深入认知木薯根际微生物提供了基础。     

丛枝菌根真菌提高感染青枯菌番茄根际土壤细菌群落多样性和稳定性及有益菌属相对丰度

  【目的】  青枯病是由茄科雷尔氏菌 (Ralstonia solanacearum, 亦称青枯菌) 诱导产生的一种高温高湿型土传病害,土壤温度高、湿度大时易于青枯菌的繁殖进而引发青枯病。丛枝菌根真菌 (arbuscular mycorrhiza, AM) 可能通过调控根际微生物区系对病原体产生影响,我们研究了AM真菌对青枯菌入侵条件下土壤细菌群落的影响。  【方法】  以番茄 (Solanum lycopersicum) 为试材进行盆栽试验,供试AM真菌为摩西管柄囊霉 (Funneliformis mosseae) M47V,供试病原菌为茄科雷尔氏菌QL-RS 1115 (GenBank:GU390462)。催芽5日的番茄种子,接种AM菌剂的为菌根苗,未接种AM真菌的为非菌根苗。在番茄幼苗生长30天时,一半菌根苗和非菌根苗接种青枯菌,另一半不接种青枯菌,共4个处理。在接种青枯菌后1天和14天,采集番茄样品,采用抖土方法采集根际土壤,利用实时荧光PCR分析番茄根际青枯菌数量,采用16S rRNA高通量测序探究土壤细菌群落多样性和结构稳定性。  【结果】  在接种青枯菌初期 (1天),非菌根苗接种青枯菌 (TR–AMF) 和菌根苗接种青枯菌 (TR+AMF) 两组处理的根际土壤细菌群落结构发生明显改变,Chao1指数、Shannon指数和Simpson指数显著降低 (P<0.05),共现网络的节点数和连接数明显减少,模块化程度降低,共现网络简化表明细菌群落结构的稳定性降低。接种青枯菌14天后,不动杆菌属 (Acinetobacter)、鞘氨醇单胞菌属 (Sphingomonas)、溶杆菌属 (Lysobacter)、假单胞菌属 (Pseudomonas) 等有益细菌属在感染青枯菌的番茄根际富集,细菌共现网络的节点数和连接数增加,模块化程度提高,表明细菌群落稳定性得到恢复。与非菌根苗相比,菌根苗接种青枯菌 (TR+AMF) 和菌根苗未接种青枯菌 (TN+AMF) 两个处理番茄根际土壤中青枯菌丰度显著降低 (P<0.05)。AM真菌显著提高Chao1指数和Shannon指数 (P<0.05),提高了感染青枯菌番茄根际土壤中黄杆菌属(Flavobacterium)、黄色土源菌属 (Flavisolibacter)、噬胞菌属 (Cytophaga) 和苔藓杆菌属 (Bryobacter) 的相对丰度,同时增加了共现网络的节点数和连接数,并促进番茄根际细菌物种之间的良性互作,提高细菌网络的复杂程度。  【结论】  感染青枯菌的番茄根际会富集不动杆菌属 (Acinetobacter)、鞘氨醇单胞菌属 (Sphingomonas)、溶杆菌属 (Lysobacter)、假单胞菌属 (Pseudomonas) 等有益菌属以提高其抗病性,恢复细菌多样性和群落稳定性。接种AM真菌可显著降低番茄根际土壤中青枯菌的丰度,特别是侵染青枯菌后提高番茄根际的黄杆菌属 (Flavobacterium)、黄色土源菌属 (Flavisolibacter) 、噬胞菌属 (Cytophaga) 和苔藓杆菌属 (Bryobacter)的相对丰度,进而抑制土壤中青枯菌的生长,并通过提高细菌的多样性和丰富度,促进番茄根际细菌物种之间的稳定共生和良性互作,从而提高细菌群落对青枯菌的抵抗能力。     

两株解磷细菌的解磷活性及作用机制研究

解磷细菌在增加土壤可溶性磷含量、提高磷肥利用效率方面具有重要作用。为选筛高效解磷菌、探讨其解磷机制,本文利用平板溶磷圈法筛选解磷细菌,采用钼锑抗比色法研究其解磷活性,苯磷酸二钠法研究其磷酸酶活性,利用薄层层析分析其产生的有机酸,根据生理生化特征和16S r RNA基因序列系统发育分析,确定其分类学地位。结果表明,菌株JXJ-11和JXJ-15对植酸钙的降解活性很强,3 d后培养液中可溶性磷浓度分别增加219 mg·L~(-1)和216 mg·L~(-1);对磷酸钙降解活性较弱,最高可溶性磷浓度仅为植酸钙的21.79%~30.37%;解磷细菌可分泌酸性、中性和碱性磷酸酶,降解不溶性磷,可能产生丙酸和琥珀酸等有机酸,降低培养液p H,增加可溶性磷浓度。两株细菌均为革兰氏阴性杆菌,无芽孢,产生硫化氢,其中菌株JXJ-11的16S rRNA基因序列与Sphingomonas melonis DAPP-PG 224T和S.aquatilis JSS7T相似性最高(99.79%),菌株JXJ-15的16S rRNA基因序列与Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp.pneumoniae DSM 30104T相似性最高(99.73%),根据以上信息,确定菌株JXJ-11和JXJ-15分别是鞘氨醇单胞菌属和克雷白氏杆菌属的成员。菌株JXJ-11和JXJ-15的解磷机制包括分泌有机酸和磷酸酶,其中JXJ-11在微生物磷肥研制方面具有潜在应用价值。     

Long-term submergence of non-methanogenic oxic upland field soils helps to develop the methanogenic archaeal community as revealed by pot and field experiments

The community structure of methanogenic archaea is relatively stable,i.e.,it is sustained at a high abundance with minimal changes in composition,in paddy field soils irrespective of submergence and drainage.In contrast,the abundance in non-methanogenic oxic soils is much lower than that in paddy field soils.This study aimed to describe methanogenic archaeal community development following the long-term submergence of non-methanogenic oxic upland field soils in pot and field experiments.In the pot experiment,a soil sample obtained from an upland field was incubated under submerged conditions for 275 d.Soil samples periodically collected were subjected to culture-dependent most probable number(MPN)enumeration,polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis(PCR-DGGE)analysis of archaeal 16 S r RNA gene,and quantitative PCR analysis of the methyl-coenzyme M reductase alpha subunit gene(mcr A)of methanogenic archaea.The abundance of methanogenic archaea increased from 102 to 103 cells g-1 dry soil and 104 to 107 copies of mcr A gene g-1 dry soil after submergence.Although no methanogenic archaeon was detected prior to incubation by the DGGE analysis,members from Methanocellales,Methanosarcinaceae,and Methanosaetaceae proliferated in the soils,and the community structure was relatively stable once established.In the field experiment,the number of viable methanogenic archaea in a rice paddy field converted from meadow(reclaimed paddy field)was monitored by MPN enumeration over five annual cycles of field operations.Viability was also determined simultaneously in a paddy field where the plow layer soil from a farmer’s paddy field was dressed onto the meadow(dressed paddy field)and an upland crop field converted from the meadow(reclaimed upland field).The number of viable methanogenic archaea in the reclaimed paddy field was below the detection limit before the first cultivation of rice and in the reclaimed upland field.Then,the number gradually increased over five years and finally reached 103–104 cells g-1 dry soil,which was comparable to that in the dressed paddy field.These findings showed that the low abundance of autochthonous methanogenic archaea in the non-methanogenic oxic upland field soils steadily proliferated,and the community structure was developed following repeated and long-term submergence.These results suggest that habitats suitable for methanogenic archaea were established in soil following repeated and long-term submergence.     

Investigating drivers of microbial activity and respiration in a forested bog

Northern peatlands store nearly one-third of terrestrial carbon(C)stocks while covering only 3%of the global landmass;nevertheless,the drivers of C cycling in these often-waterlogged ecosystems are different from those that control C dynamics in upland forested soils.To explore how multiple abiotic and biotic characteristics of bogs interact to shape microbial activity in a northern,forested bog,we added a labile C tracer(13C-labeled starch)to in situ peat mesocosms and correlated heterotrophic respiration with natural variation in several microbial predictor variables,such as enzyme activity and microbial biomass,as well as with a suite of abiotic variables and proximity to vascular plants aboveground.We found that peat moisture content was positively correlated with respiration and microbial activity,even when moisture levels exceeded total saturation,suggesting that access to organic matter substrates in drier environments may be limiting for microbial activity.Proximity to black spruce trees decreased total and labile heterotrophic respiration.This negative relationship may reflect the influence of tree evapotranspiration and peat shading effects;i.e.,microbial activity may decline as peat dries and cools near trees.Here,we isolated the response of heterotrophic respiration to explore the variation in,and interactions among,multiple abiotic and biotic drivers that influence microbial activity.This approach allowed us to reveal the relative influence of individual drivers on C respiration in these globally important C sinks.     

Chronic effects of different fertilization regimes on nirS-type denitrifier communities across the black soil region of Northeast China

Denitrification is one of the major processes causing nitrogen loss from arable soils.This study aimed to investigate the responses of nir S-type denitrifier communities to different chronic fertilization regimes across the black soil region of Northeast China.Soil samples were collected from sites located in the north(NB),middle(MB),and south(SB)of the black soil region of Northeast China,each with four chronic fertilization regimes:no fertilizer(No F),chemical fertilizer(CF),manure(M),and chemical fertilizer plus manure(CFM).Methods of quantitative polymerase chain reaction(q PCR)and Illumina Mi Seq sequencing were applied to assess the abundance and composition of denitrifier communities by targeting the nir S gene.The results showed that the M and CFM regimes significantly increased the abundances of nir S-type denitrifiers compared with No F at the three locations.The majority of nir S sequences were grouped as unclassified denitrifiers,and the different fertilizers induced little variation in the relative abundance of known nir S-type denitrifier taxa.Over 90%of the sequences were shared among the four fertilization regimes at each location,but none of the abundant operational taxonomic units(OTUs)were shared among the three locations.Principal coordinate analysis(PCo A)revealed that the communities of nir S-type denitrifier were separated into three groups that corresponded with their locations.Although similar fertilization regimes did not induce consistent changes in the nir S-type denitrifier communities,soil p H and NO-3-N content simultaneously and significantly influenced the structure of nir S-type denitrifier communities at the three locations.Our results highlight that geographical separation rather than chronic fertilization was the dominant factor determining the nir S-type denitrifier community structures,and similar chronic fertilization regimes did not induce consistent shifts of nir S-type denitrifier communities in the black soils.     

Enhanced anaerobic degradation of hexachlorobenzene in a Hydragric Acrisol using

Humic substances acting as an electron shuttle and nitrogen transformation process influence remarkably the electron transfer in anaerobic reaction systems and thus may affect the reductive dechlorination of hexachlorobenzene(HCB). In order to develop an efficient agricultural strategy for the remediation of organochlorine-contaminated soils, a batch incubation experiment was conducted to study the effects of humic acid, urea, and their interaction on the reductive dechlorination of HCB in a Hydragric Acrisol with high iron oxide content. After 44 d of anaerobic incubation, the five treatments, sterile control,control, humic acid, urea, and humic acid + urea decreased HCB residues by 28.8%, 47.8%, 64.7%, 57.8%, and 71.3%, respectively. The amendment of humic acid or urea significantly decreased soil Eh values and accelerated Fe(Ⅲ) reduction to Fe(Ⅱ), thus promoting markedly reductive dechlorination of HCB. Humic acid had a larger dechlorination effect than urea. Since there was a synergistic interaction between humic acid and urea that accelerated HCB dechlorination, the treatment having both amendments together was the most efficient for HCB dechlorination. The results showed that the combination of NH4⁺_-N supplied by a fertilizer and humic substance is a feasible strategy for the remediation of organochlorine-contaminated soils with abundant iron oxide.     

Complementary effect of zoo compost with mineral nitrogen fertilisation increases wheat yield and nutrition in a low-nutrient soil

Excess nitrogen(N) fertiliser use in agriculture is associated with water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.While practices and programs to reduce N fertiliser application continue to be developed,inefficient fertiliser use persists.Practices that reduce mineral N fertiliser application are needed in a sustainable agricultural ecosystem to control leaching and gaseous losses for environmental management.This study evaluated whether fully or partially replacing mineral N fertiliser with zoo compost(Perth Zoo) could be a good mitigation strategy to reduce mineral N fertiliser application without affecting wheat yield and nutrition.To achieve this,a glasshouse experiment was conducted to assess the complementary effect of zoo compost and mineral N fertiliser on wheat yield and nutrition in a sandy soil of southwestern Australia.Additionally,a chlorophyll meter was used to determine whether there was a correlation between chlorophyll content and soil mineral N content,grain N uptake,and grain protein content at the tillering(42 d after sowing(DAS)) and heading(63 DAS) growth stages.The standard practice for N application for this soil type in this area,100 kg ha^-1,was used with a soil bulk density of 1.3 g cm^-3 to calculate the amount of mineral N(urea,46% N) and Perth Zoo compost(ZC)(0.69% N) for each treatment.Treatments comprised a control(no nutrients added,T1),mineral N only(100 kg N ha^-1,T2),ZC only(100 kg N ha^-1,T7),and combinations of mineral N and ZC at different rates(mineral N at 100 kg N ha^-1+ ZC at 25 kg N ha^-1(T3),mineral N at 75 kg N ha^-1+ ZC at 25 kg N ha^-1(T4),mineral N at 75 kg N ha^-1+ ZC at 50 kg N ha^-1(T5),and mineral N at 50 kg N ha^-1+ ZC at 50 kg N ha^-1(T6)).The T6 treatment significantly increased grain yield(by 26%) relative to the T2 treatment.However,the T7 treatment did not affect grain yield when compared to the T2 treatment.All treatments with mineral N and ZC in combination significantly improved the 1 000-grain weight compared to the T2 treatment.Chlorophyll content was better correlated with soil mineral N content(r = 0.61),grain N uptake(r = 0.62),and grain protein content(r = 0.80) at heading(63 DAS) than at tillering(42 DAS).While ZC alone could not serve as an alternative to mineral N fertiliser,its complementary use could reduce the mineral N fertiliser requirement by up to 50% for wheat without compromising grain yield,which needs to be verified in the field.Chlorophyll content could be used to predict soil mineral N at the heading stage,and further studies are warranted to verify its accuracy in the field.Overall,the application of ZC as part of integrated nutrient management improved crop yield with reduced N fertiliser application.     

Evidence for niche differentiation of nitrifying communities in grassland soils after 44 years of different field fertilization scenarios

Long-term nitrogen(N)fertilization imposes strong selection on nitrifying communities in agricultural soil,but how a progressively changing niche affects potentially active nitrifiers in the field remains poorly understood.Using a 44-year grassland fertilization experiment,we investigated community shifts of active nitrifiers by DNA-based stable isotope probing(SIP)of field soils that received no fertilization(CK),high levels of organic cattle manure(HC),and chemical N fertilization(CF).Incubation of DNA-SIP microcosms showed significant nitrification activities in CF and HC soils,whereas no activity occurred in CK soils.The 44 years of inorganic N fertilization selected only 13C-ammonia-oxidizing bacteria(AOB),whereas cattle slurry applications created a niche in which both ammonia-oxidizing archaea(AOA)and AOB could be actively13C-labeled.Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Nitrosospira sp.62-like AOB dominated inorganically fertilized CF soils,while Nitrosospira sp.41-like AOB were abundant in organically fertilized HC soils.The 13C-AOA in HC soils were affiliated with the 29i4 lineage.The 13C-nitrite-oxidizing bacteria(NOB)were dominated by both Nitrospira-and Nitrobacter-like communities in CF soils,and the latter was overwhelmingly abundant in HC soils.The 13C-labeled nitrifying communities in SIP microcosms of CF and HC soils were largely similar to those predominant under field conditions.These results provide direct evidence for a strong selection of distinctly active nitrifiers after 44 years of different fertilization regimes in the field.Our findings imply that niche differentiation of nitrifying communities could be assessed as a net result of microbial adaption over 44 years to inorganic and organic N fertilization in the field,where distinct nitrifiers have been shaped by intensified anthropogenic N input.     

A new perspective on functional redundancy and phylogenetic niche conservatism in soil microbial communities

Functional redundancy in soil microbial communities seems to contradict the notion that individual species have distinct metabolic niches in multi-species communities.All soil microbiota have the metabolic capacity for"basic"functions(e.g.,respiration and nitrogen and phosphorus cycling),but only a few soil microbiota participate in"rare"functions(e.g.,methanogenesis and mineralization of recalcitrant organic pollutants).The objective of this perspective paper is to use the phylogenetic niche conservatism theory as an explanation for the functional redundancy of soil microbiota.Phylogenetic niche conservatism is defined as the tendency for lineages to retain ancestral functional characteristics through evolutionary time-scales.The present-day soil microbiota is the result of a community assembly process that started when prokaryotes first appeared on Earth.For billions of years,microbiota have retained a highly conserved set of core genes that control the essential redox and biogeochemical reactions for life on Earth.These genes are passed from microbe to microbe,which contributes to functional redundancy in soil microbiota at the planetary scale.The assembly of microbial communities during soil formation is consistent with phylogenetic niche conservatism.Within a specific soil,the heterogeneous matrix provides an infinite number of sets of diverse environmental conditions,i.e.,niches that lead to the divergence of microbial species.The phylogenetic niche conservatism theory predicts that two or more microbial species diverging from the same clade will have an overlap in their niches,implying that they are functionally redundant in some of their metabolic processes.The endogenous genetic factors that constrain the adaptation of individuals and,thus,populations to changing environmental conditions constitute the core process of phylogenetic niche conservatism.Furthermore,the degree of functional redundancy in a particular soil is proportional to the complexity of the considered function.We conclude with a conceptual model that identifies six patterns of functional redundancy in soil microbial communities,consistent with the phylogenetic niche conservatism theory.     

Responses of soil phosphorus pools accompanied with carbon composition and microorganism changes to phosphorus-input reduction in paddy soils

In rice-wheat rotation systems, changes in soil phosphorus(P) pools and microorganisms in rice-growing seasons have been studied;however, further investigations are required to test whether these indexes exhibit different responses in wheat-growing seasons. Additionally, such studies need to include potential variations in soil carbon(C) structure and microbial community composition. In this study, a long-term rice-wheat rotation P-input reduction experiment was conducted to observe the variations in soil P pools and C composition in the 7th wheat season and to investigate the responses of soil enzyme activity and microbial communities. Four P fertilization treatments were included in the experiment, i.e., P application for rice season only(PR), for wheat season only(PW), and for both rice and wheat seasons(PR+W) and no P application in either season(Pzero). Compared with PR+W treatment, Pzero treatment significantly decreased(P < 0.05) labile and stable P pools. Different P fertilization regimes altered soil microbial community composition and enzyme activity, whereas C composition did not vary. However, PW treatment resulted in relatively more O-alkyl-C than PR treatment and the highest number of microorganisms. Besides, the higher ratios of fungi/bacteria and Gram-positive bactetia/Gram-negative bactetia were related to labile C pools, particularly O-alkyl-C, as opposed to recalcitrant C. Our results clarified the status of soil P pools, C chemistry, and the response of microorganisms under dry-farming conditions in the P input-reduced rice-wheat rotation system.     

Beyond microbial diversity for predicting soil functions: A mini review

Since the advent of sequencing technologies,the determination of microbial diversity to predict microbial functions,which are the major determinants of soil functions,has become a major topic of interest,as evidenced by the 900 publications dealing with soil metagenome published up to 2017.However,the detection of a gene in soil does not mean that the relative function is expressed,and the presence of a particular taxon does not mean that the relative functions determined in pure culture also occur in the studied soil.Another critical step is to link microbial community composition or function to the product analyzed to determine flux rates.Indeed,flux rates might not only be highly dynamic,but several metabolites can depend on different reactions,which makes the link to one process of interest difficult or even impossible.This review also discusses biases caused by sampling,storage of samples,DNA extraction and purification,sequencing(amplicon-vs.metagenome sequencing),and bioinformatic data analysis.Insights and the limits of predicting microbial interactions by network inference methods are critically discussed,and finally,future directions for a better understanding of soil functions by using measurements of microbial diversity are presented.     

Influence of kaolinite and montmorillonite on benzo[a]pyrene biodegradation by Paracoccus aminovorans HPD-2 and the underlying interface interaction mechanisms

Clay minerals play an important role in biogeochemical cycling.Here,kaolinite and montmorillonite,the two most abundant and widespread clay minerals with typical layered structures,were selected to investigate and compare their effects on the biodegradation of benzo[a]pyrene(BaP)by Paracoccus aminovorans HPD-2 and to investigate the underlying interface mechanisms.Overall,the BaP degradation efficiency was significantly higher 7 d after montmorillonite addition,reaching 68.9%(P<0.05),when compared with that of the control without addition of clay minerals(CK,61.4%);however,the addition of kaolinite significantly reduced the BaP degradation efficiency to 45.8%.This suggests that kaolinite inhibits BaP degradation by inhibiting the growth of strain HPD-2,or its strong hydrophobicity and readily agglomerates in the degradation system,resulting in a decrease in the bio-accessibility of BaP to strain HPD-2.Montmorillonite may buffer some unfavorable factors,and cells may be fixed on the surface of montmorillonite colloidal particles across energy barriers.Furthermore,the adsorption of BaP on montmorillonite may be weakened after swelling,reducing the effect on the bio-accessibility of BaP,thus promoting the biodegradation of BaP by strain HPD-2.The experimental results indicate that differential bacterial growth,BaP bio-accessibility,interface interaction,and the buffering effect may explain the differential effects of the different minerals on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation.These observations improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which clay minerals,organic pollutants,and degrading bacteria interact during the biodegradation process and provide a theoretical basis for increasing the biodegradation of soil pollutants by native microorganisms under field conditions.