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Liu Z, Shao Y, Cui Q, Ye X, Huang Z. 'Fertile island' effects on the soil microbial community beneath the canopy of Tetraena mongolica, an endangered and dominant shrub in the West Ordos Desert, North China. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:178. [PMID: 38454326 PMCID: PMC10921620 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-04873-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The fertile islands formed by shrubs are major drivers of the structure and function of desert ecosystems, affecting seedling establishment, plant-plant interactions, the diversity and productivity of plant communities, and microbial activity/diversity. Although an increasing number of studies have shown the critical importance of soil microbes in fertile island formation, how soil microbial community structure and function are affected by the different fertile island effect intensities is still unknown. As an endangered and dominant shrub species in the West Ordos Desert, Tetraena mongolica was selected for further exploration of its fertile island effect on the soil microbial community in the present study to test the following two hypotheses: (1) T. mongolica shrubs with different canopy sizes exert fertile island effects of different strengths; (2) the soil microbial community structure and function beneath the T. mongolica canopy are affected by the fertile island, and the strength of these effects varies depending on the shrub canopy size. RESULTS The contents of soil total nitrogen (TN) and available phosphorus (AVP) were significantly greater beneath T. mongolica shrub canopy than outside the shrub canopy. With increasing shrub canopy size, the enrichment of soil TN and AVP increased, indicating a stronger fertile island effect. The structure and function of soil microbial communities, including fungal, archaeal and bacterial communities, are affected by the fertile island effect. An increase in canopy size increased the relative abundance of Ascomycota (Fungi) and Thaumarchaeota (Archaea). For the soil microbial functional groups, the relative abundance of endophytes in the fungal functional groups; steroid hormone biosynthesis, sphingolipid metabolism, and steroid biosynthesis genes in the bacterial functional groups; and nonhomologous end-joining and bisphenol degradation functional genes in the archaeal functional groups increased significantly with increasing T. mongolica canopy size. CONCLUSIONS These results revealed that T. mongolica had a fertile island effect, which affected the soil microbial community structure and functions, and that the fertile island effect might increase with increasing shrub canopy size. The fertile island effect may strengthen the interaction between T. mongolica shrubs and microbes, which may be beneficial to the growth and maintenance of T. mongolica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangkai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijng, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijng, 100049, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Yuying Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijng, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijng, 100049, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Qingguo Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijng, 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Xuehua Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijng, 100093, China.
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China.
| | - Zhenying Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijng, 100093, China.
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China.
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Mousa WK, Abu-Izneid T, Salah-Tantawy A. High-throughput sequencing reveals the structure and metabolic resilience of desert microbiome confronting climate change. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1294173. [PMID: 38510442 PMCID: PMC10953687 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1294173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Desert ecosystems harbor a unique microbial diversity that is crucial for ecological stability and biogeochemical cycles. An in-depth understanding of the biodiversity, compositions, and functions of these microbial communities is imperative to navigate global changes and confront potential threats and opportunities applicable to agricultural ecosystems amid climate change. Methods This study explores microbial communities in the rhizosphere and endosphere of desert plants native to the Arabian Peninsula using next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4 hypervariable region). Results Our results reveal that each microbial community has a diverse and unique microbial composition. Based on alpha and beta diversity indices, the rhizosphere microbiome is significantly diverse and richer in microbial taxa compared to the endosphere. The data reveals a shift towards fast-growing microbes with active metabolism, involvement in nutrient cycling, nitrogen fixation, and defense pathways. Our data reveals the presence of habitat-specific microbial communities in the desert, highlighting their remarkable resilience and adaptability to extreme environmental conditions. Notably, we observed the existence of radiation-resistant microbes such as Deinococcus radiotolerans, Kocuria sp., and Rubrobacter radiotolerans which can tolerate high levels of ionizing radiation. Additionally, examples of microbes exhibiting tolerance to challenging conditions include Nocardioides halotolerans, thriving in high-salinity environments, and hyperthermophilic microbes such as Quasibacillus thermotolerans. Moreover, functional analysis reveals enrichment in chaperon biosynthesis pathways associated with correct protein folding under heat stress conditions. Discussion Our research sheds light on the unique diversity of desert microbes and underscores their potential applications to increase the resilience of agriculture ecosystems, offering a promising strategy to fortify crops against the challenges posed by climate change, ultimately supporting sustainable food production for our ever-expanding global population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walaa K. Mousa
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Al Ain University (AAU) Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- College of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Tareq Abu-Izneid
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Al Ain University (AAU) Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ahmed Salah-Tantawy
- Institute of Analytical and Environmental Sciences, College of Nuclear Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Zoology, Marine Science Division, College of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt
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Li J, Zhang L, Yu S, Luo Z, Su D, Zheng D, Zhou H, Zhu J, Lin X, Luo H, Rensing C, Lin Z, Lin D. Long-Term Benefits of Cenchrus fungigraminus Residual Roots Improved the Quality and Microbial Diversity of Rhizosphere Sandy Soil through Cellulose Degradation in the Ulan Buh Desert, Northwest China. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:708. [PMID: 38475554 DOI: 10.3390/plants13050708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Long-term plant residue retention can effectively replenish soil quality and fertility. In this study, we collected rhizosphere soil from the residual roots of annual Cenchrus fungigraminus in the Ulan Buh Desert over the past 10 years. The area, depth, and length of these roots decreased over time. The cellulose content of the residual roots was significantly higher in the later 5 years (2018-2022) than the former 5 years (2013-2017), reaching its highest value in 2021. The lignin content of the residual roots did not differ across samples except in 2015 and reached its highest level in 2021. The total sugar of the residual roots in 2022 was 227.88 ± 30.69 mg·g-1, which was significantly higher than that in other years. Compared to the original sandy soil, the soil organic matter and soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) contents were 2.17-2.41 times and 31.52-35.58% higher in the later 3 years (2020-2022) and reached the highest values in 2020. The residual roots also significantly enhanced the soil carbon stocks from 2018-2022. Soil dehydrogenase, nitrogenase, and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosidase (S-NAG) were significantly affected from 2019-2022. The rhizosphere soil community richness and diversity of the bacterial and fungal communities significantly decreased with the duration of the residual roots in the sandy soil, and there was a significant difference for 10 years. Streptomyces, Bacillus, and Sphigomonas were the representative bacteria in the residual root rhizosphere soil, while Agaricales and Panaeolus were the enriched fungal genera. The distance-based redundancy analysis and partial least square path model results showed that the duration of residual roots in the sandy soil, S-NAG, and SMBC were the primary environmental characteristics that shaped the microbial community. These insights provide new ideas on how to foster the exploration of the use of annual herbaceous plants for sandy soil improvement in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- National Engineering Research Center of Juncao Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- College of Juncao and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Lili Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center of Juncao Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- College of Juncao and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Shikui Yu
- National Engineering Research Center of Juncao Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zongzhi Luo
- National Engineering Research Center of Juncao Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Dewei Su
- National Engineering Research Center of Juncao Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Dan Zheng
- National Engineering Research Center of Juncao Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Hengyu Zhou
- National Engineering Research Center of Juncao Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- College of Juncao and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jieyi Zhu
- National Engineering Research Center of Juncao Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xingsheng Lin
- National Engineering Research Center of Juncao Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- College of Juncao and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Hailing Luo
- National Engineering Research Center of Juncao Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- College of Juncao and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Christopher Rensing
- National Engineering Research Center of Juncao Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Institute of Environmental Microbiology, College of Resource and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zhanxi Lin
- National Engineering Research Center of Juncao Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- College of Juncao and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Dongmei Lin
- National Engineering Research Center of Juncao Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- College of Juncao and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
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Liu G, Tan W, Wang H, Han X, Hornok S, Zhao S, Mi L, Wang S, Yang M, Wang Y. The great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) as a host for tick species in Gurbantunggut Desert. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:55. [PMID: 38326828 PMCID: PMC10851595 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06160-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rodents play an important role in the life cycle of ixodid and argasid ticks, particularly as hosts of larvae and nymphs. The great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus), the preferred prey item of several carnivores (e.g. the red fox and marbled polecat), is the dominant rodent species in the Gurbantunggut Desert in northwestern China. The aim of this study was to investigate tick species associated with different hosts in the habitat of great gerbils, including wildlife and livestock. METHODS During 2018-2023, ticks were removed from 326 great gerbils, two red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), three marbled polecats (Vormela peregusna), 35 pastured sheep (Ovis aries), and one long-eared desert hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) in the Gurbantunggut Desert. Ticks were identified according to standard morphological keys. Then, they were further analyzed by molecular and phylogenic methods based on two mitochondrial markers, 16S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes. RESULTS A total of 889 ticks were collected, representing five species. These included Hyalomma asiaticum (n = 425: 24 larvae, 79 nymphs and 322 adults), Rhipicephalus turanicus (n = 153: 2 nymphs and 151 adults), Haemaphysalis erinacei (n = 298: 4 larvae, 7 nymphs and 287 adults), Ixodes acuminatus (n = 7: 4 nymphs and 3 adults) and Ornithodoros tartakovskyi (6 adults). Based on COI sequences, molecular and phylogenetic analyses showed that (i) I. acuminatus from great gerbils and marbled polecats clustered with I. acuminatus reported from Europe; (ii) O. tartakovskyi found in northwestern China belonged to an independent clade; (iii) Hy. asiaticum, R. turanicus and Ha. erinacei had 100% sequence identities to conspecific ticks sampled previously in China. CONCLUSIONS The great gerbil is an important host for the developmental stages of I. acuminatus, O. tartakovskyi, Ha. erinacei, Hy. asiaticum and R. turanicus, thus supporting the life cycle of several tick species which, as adults, parasitize predators (red fox and marble polecat) as well as pastured sheep and hedgehogs in the Gurbantunggut Desert. Ixodes acuminatus and O. tartakovskyi were found for the first time on great gerbil and marbled polecat, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Liu
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, The XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenbo Tan
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, The XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Huiqian Wang
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, The XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoshuang Han
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, The XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- HUN-REN-UVMB Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, The XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Ligu Mi
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, The XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Suwen Wang
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, The XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Meihua Yang
- Department of Forest, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, The XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
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Wu X, Wang X, Wang P, Gu Y, Li Y. Effects of groundwater depth on ecological stoichiometric characteristics of assimilated branches and soil of two desert plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1225907. [PMID: 37615016 PMCID: PMC10443709 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1225907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater plays a crucial role in regulating plant growth in arid regions and has significant effects on plant physiological mechanisms. However, research on the influence of groundwater change on plant ecological stoichiometry is still limited. Therefore, this study was carried out to obtain the variations in assimilated branches and soil ecological stoichiometry of two dominant species in the Gurbantunggut Desert (Haloxylon ammodendron and Haloxylon persicum) at different groundwater depths to reveal the responses of desert plants to groundwater depth changes. The results showed that (1) H. persicum branches' stress tolerance indicators (C:N, C:P) are higher, while nutritional indicators (N:P) are lower. The soil nutrient of H. ammodendron is richer. (2) The ecological stoichiometry varied significantly along the groundwater gradient. With the deepening of groundwater, the branches C, N and P increased, and the variation in element ratio was inconsistent. Most of the soil properties was inversely proportional to the depth of groundwater. (3) Groundwater depth was a vital environmental factor affecting the assimilated branches ecological stoichiometry. Soil properties also had a significant influence on element accumulation in assimilated branches. (4) Regulating the allocation of branches ecological stoichiometry is an adaptation of two Haloxylon species to cope with local hydrological conditions changes. These findings provide novel insights into desert plant responses to different groundwater conditions within fragile desert ecosystems and may have implications for the implementation of effective measures related to the stability and sustainability of desert ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Wu
- College of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
- Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology, Ministry of Education, Urumqi, China
- Ecological Postdoctoral Research Station, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
- Xinjiang Jinghe Observation and Research Station of Temperate Desert Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Jinghe, China
| | - Xueying Wang
- College of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
- Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology, Ministry of Education, Urumqi, China
- Xinjiang Jinghe Observation and Research Station of Temperate Desert Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Jinghe, China
| | - Pengqi Wang
- College of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
- Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology, Ministry of Education, Urumqi, China
- Xinjiang Jinghe Observation and Research Station of Temperate Desert Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Jinghe, China
| | - Yuanting Gu
- College of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
- Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology, Ministry of Education, Urumqi, China
- Xinjiang Jinghe Observation and Research Station of Temperate Desert Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Jinghe, China
| | - Yan Li
- Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- Fukang Station of Desert Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
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