Fungal, but not bacterial, diversity and network complexity promote network stability during roadside slope restoration

To restore degraded roadside ecosystems, conventional methods such as revegetation and soil amendment are frequently employed. However, our understanding of the long-term effects of these restoration approaches on soil microbial diversity and network complexity across different vegetation types remains poor, which contributes to poor restoration outcomes. In this study, we explored the effects of roadside slope restoration on microbial communities across different vegetation types at varying stages of restoration. We found that restoration time had a more pronounced impact on microbial diversity than specific vegetation type. As restoration progressed, microbial network complexity and fungal diversity increased, but bacterial diversity declined, suggesting that keystone taxa may contribute to network complexity. Interestingly, bacterial network complexity increased concomitant with decreasing network modularity and robustness, which may compromise system stability. Distinct vegetation types were associated with restoration-sensitive microbial communities at different restoration stages. Leguminouse and nitrogen-fixing plants, such as Albiziak alkora, Ginkgo biloba, Rhus chinensis, Rhapis excels, and Rubia cordifolia exhibited such associations after five years of restoration. These keystone taxa included Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadota, and Myxococcota. We also found that bacterial alpha diversity was significantly correlated with restoration time, soil pH, moisture, available phosphate, nitrate nitrogen, and plant height, while fungal diversity was primarily shaped by restoration time. Together, our findings suggest that soil properties, environmental factors, vegetation type, and dominant species can be manipulated to guide the trajectory of ecological recovery by regulating the abundance of certain microbial taxa.

Pathogen-Mediated Assembly of Plant-Beneficial Bacteria to Alleviate Fusarium Wilt in Pseudostellaria heterophylla

Fusarium wilt (FW) is a primary replant disease that affects Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Taizishen) and is caused by Fusarium oxysporum, which occurs widely in China under the continuous monocropping regime. However, the ternary interactions among the soil microbiota, P. heterophylla, and F. oxysporum remain unknown. We investigated the potential interaction relationship by which the pathogen-mediated P. heterophylla regulates the soil and the tuberous root microbiota via high-throughput sequencing. Plant-pathogen interaction assays were conducted to measure the arrival of F. oxysporum and Pseudomonas poae at the tuberous root via qPCR and subsequent seedling disease incidence. A growth assay was used to determine the effect of the tuberous root crude exudate inoculated with the pathogen on P. poae. We observed that pathogen-mediated P. heterophylla altered the diversity and the composition of the microbial communities in its rhizosphere soil and tuberous root. Beneficial microbe P. poae and pathogen F. oxysporum were significantly enriched in rhizosphere soil and within the tuberous root in the FW group with high severity. Correlation analysis showed that, accompanied with FW incidence, P. poae co-occurred with F. oxysporum. The aqueous extract of P. heterophylla tuberous root infected by F. oxysporum substantially promoted the growth of P. poae isolates (H1-3-A7, H2-3-B7, H4-3-C1, and N3-3-C4). These results indicated that the extracts from the tuberous root of P. heterophylla inoculated with F. oxysporum might attract P. poae and promote its growth. Furthermore, the colonization assay found that the gene copies of sucD in the P. poae and F. oxysporum treatment (up to 6.57 × 10¹⁰) group was significantly higher than those in the P. poae treatment group (3.29 × 10¹⁰), and a pathogen-induced attraction assay found that the relative copies of sucD of P. poae in the F. oxysporum treatment were significantly higher than in the H₂O treatment. These results showed that F. oxysporum promoted the colonization of P. poae on the tuberous root via F. oxysporum mediation. In addition, the colonization assay found that the disease severity index in the P. poae and F. oxysporum treatment group was significantly lower than that in the F. oxysporum treatment group, and a pathogen-induced attraction assay found that the disease severity index in the F. oxysporum treatment group was significantly higher than that in the H₂O treatment group. Together, these results suggest that pathogen-mediated P. heterophylla promoted and assembled plant-beneficial microbes against plant disease. Therefore, deciphering the beneficial associations between pathogen-mediated P. heterophylla and microbes can provide novel insights into the implementation and design of disease management strategies.

Genetically diverse lentil- and faba bean-nodulating rhizobia are present in soils across Central and Southern Ethiopia

In total 196 bacterial isolates were obtained from root nodules of lentil (Lens culinaris) and faba bean (Vicia faba) grown on soil samples collected from 10 different sites in central and southern parts of Ethiopia. All isolates were identified as members of the genus Rhizobium by using recA gene sequence analysis. In the recA phylogenetic tree 195 rhizobial strains were classified into nine genospecies. The phylogeny of symbiotic genes nodC and nifH revealed five and six distinct groups respectively, largely dominated by symbiovar viciae. A multivariate analysis showed that environmental variables of the sampling sites considered in this study had more effect on the distribution and composition of the genospecies than the host legumes of the strains. Twenty representative strains, selected based on their isolation site, host plant and nodC group, were able to nodulate all lentil, faba bean, field pea (Pisum abyssinicum) and grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) plants in a greenhouse test in axenic conditions. The majority of the rhizobial strains were effective nitrogen-fixing symbionts for all tested legumes, indicating their potential to serve as broad host-range inoculants in agriculture. The present work suggests the presence of taxonomically and symbiotically diverse rhizobial species for legumes in the Viciae tribe in Ethiopia.

Phenotypic, molecular and symbiotic characterization of the rhizobial symbionts of Desmanthus paspalaceus (Lindm.) Burkart that grow in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina

Desmanthus paspalaceus (Lindm.) Burkart belongs to the D. virgatus complex, subfamily Mimosoidae. The known potential as livestock fodder of several of these legumes prompted us to undertake a phenotypic, molecular, and symbiotic characterization of the D. paspalaceus symbionts in the Santa Fe province, Argentina. The rhizobia collected—containing isolates with different abiotic-stress tolerances—showed a remarkable genetic diversity by PCR fingerprinting, with 11 different amplification profiles present among 20 isolates. In selected isolates 16S-rDNA sequencing detected mesorhizobia (60%) and rhizobia (40%) within the collection, in contrast to the genus of the original inoculant strain CB3126—previously isolated from Leucaena leucocephala—that we typified here through its 16S rDNA as Sinorhizobium terangae. The results revealed the establishment by diverse bacterial genera -rhizobia, sinorhizobia, and mesorhizobia- of full N₂-fixing symbiotic associations with D. paspalaceus. This diversity was paralleled by the presence of at least two different nodC allelic variants. The identical nodC alleles of the Mesorhizobia sp. 10.L.4.2 and 10.L.5.3 notably failed to group within any of the currently described rhizo-/brady-/azorhizobial nodC clades. Interestingly, the nodC from S. terangae CB3126 clustered close to homologs from common bean nodulating rhizobia, but not with the nodC from S. terangae WSM1721 that nodulates Acacia. No previous data were available on nod-gene phylogeny for Desmanthus symbionts. A field assay indicated that inoculation of D. paspalaceus with the local Rhizobium sp. 10L.11.4 produced higher aerial-plant dry weights compared to S. teranga CB3126–inoculated plants. Neither the mesorhizobia 10.L.4.2 or 10.L.5.3 nor the rhizobium 10L.11.4 induced root nodules in L. leucocephala or P. vulgaris. The results show that some of the local isolates have remarkable tolerances to several abiotic stresses including acidity, salt, and temperature; while exhibiting prominent N₂ fixation; thus indicating suitability as candidates for inoculation of D. paspalaceus.

Changes in bacterial community of anthracene bioremediation in municipal solid waste composting soil

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common contaminants in a municipal solid waste (MSW) composting site. Knowledge of changes in microbial structure is useful to identify particular PAH degraders. However, the microbial community in the MSW composting soil and its change associated with prolonged exposure to PAHs and subsequent biodegradation remain largely unknown. In this study, anthracene was selected as a model compound. The bacterial community structure was investigated using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) and 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis. The two bimolecular tools revealed a large shift of bacterial community structure after anthracene amendment and subsequent biodegradation. Genera Methylophilus, Mesorhizobium, and Terrimonas had potential links to anthracene biodegradation, suggesting a consortium playing an active role.

Rhizobium petrolearium sp. nov., isolated from oil-contaminated soil

Two Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria, designated strains SL-1(T) and F11, which had the ability to decompose polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were isolated from soil samples contaminated by oil. The cells were motile by polar or lateral flagella. According to comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences, strains SL-1(T) and F11 were identical and showed the greatest degree of similarity (96.8%) to both Rhizobium oryzae Alt505(T) and Rhizobium mesosinicum CCBAU 25010(T); however, only Rhizobium oryzae with SL-1(T) and F11 formed a separate clade. There were low similarities (<90%) between the atpD and recA sequences of the two strains and those of the genus of Rhizobium. The bacteria grew at temperatures of 10-40 °C with an optimum of 30 °C. The pH range for growth was 6.0-10.0 and optimum pH was 7.0-8.0. Growth occurred at NaCl concentrations up to 3.0% (w/v). They were catalase- and oxidase-positive. The main cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (18:1ω7c and/or 18:1ω6c) and 16:0. The DNA G+C content was 62.2 mol%. Strain SL-1(T) showed 29 and 0% DNA-DNA relatedness, respectively, with the most related strains R. oryzae Alt505(T) and R. mesosinicum CCBAU 25010(T) according to phylogenic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. According to physiological and biochemical characteristics and genotypic data obtained in this work, the bacteria represent a novel species of the genus Rhizobium, and the name Rhizobium petrolearium is proposed. The type strain is SL-1(T) ( = ACCC 11238(T) = KCTC 23288(T)) and it could nodulate Medicago sativa in nodulation tests.

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is a fast and reliable platform for identification and ecological studies of species from family Rhizobiaceae

Family Rhizobiaceae includes fast growing bacteria currently arranged into three genera, Rhizobium, Ensifer and Shinella, that contain pathogenic, symbiotic and saprophytic species. The identification of these species is not possible on the basis of physiological or biochemical traits and should be based on sequencing of several genes. Therefore alternative methods are necessary for rapid and reliable identification of members from family Rhizobiaceae. In this work we evaluated the suitability of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for this purpose. Firstly, we evaluated the capability of this methodology to differentiate among species of family Rhizobiaceae including those closely related and then we extended the database of MALDI Biotyper 2.0 including the type strains of 56 species from genera Rhizobium, Ensifer and Shinella. Secondly, we evaluated the identification potential of this methodology by using several strains isolated from different sources previously identified on the basis of their rrs, recA and atpD gene sequences. The 100% of these strains were correctly identified showing that MALDI-TOF MS is an excellent tool for identification of fast growing rhizobia applicable to large populations of isolates in ecological and taxonomic studies.

Rhizobium borbori sp. nov., aniline-degrading bacteria isolated from activated sludge

Three aniline-degrading bacteria, strains DN316T, DN316-1 and DN365, were isolated from activated sludge. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis, the isolates belonged to the genus Rhizobium, with Rhizobium ( = Agrobacterium) radiobacter LMG 140T as the closest relative, with 96.5 % sequence similarity. Phylogenetic analysis of the representative strain DN316T using sequences of the glnA, thrC and recA genes and the 16S–23S intergenic spacer region confirmed the phylogenetic arrangement obtained from analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. DNA–DNA relatedness between DN316T and R. radiobacter LMG 140T was 43.7 %, clearly indicating that the representative strain DN316T represents a novel species. Phenotypic and biochemical characterization of the isolates and insertion sequence-PCR fingerprinting patterns showed several distinctive features that differentiated them from closely related species. The major components of the cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c (57.10 %), C16 : 0 (11.31 %) and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c (10.13 %). Based on our taxonomic analysis, the three isolates from activated sludge represent a novel species of the genus Rhizobium, for which the name Rhizobium borbori sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DN316T ( = CICC 10378T  = LMG 23925T).

Rhizobium vignae sp. nov., a symbiotic bacterium isolated from multiple legume species

A group of rhizobial strains isolated from nodules of multiple legume species grown in different geographical regions of China had identical 16S rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the novel strains formed a subclade in the genus Rhizobium together with Rhizobium galegae, Rhizobium huautlense and Rhizobium alkalisoli, with 99.8 % gene sequence similarity between the strains. The DNA–DNA relatedness values between the representative strain CCBAU 05176T and R. galegae ATCC 43677T, R. huautlense S02T and R. alkalisoli CCBAU 01393T were 22.6 %, 8.9 % and 15.9 %, respectively. The novel strains were distinguished from recognized species of the genus Rhizobium by using a polyphasic approach, including PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP) of the 16S–23S intergenic spacer (IGS), phenotypic and physiological tests, sequence comparisons of housekeeping genes and cellular fatty acid profiles. Therefore, it is suggested that this group of strains represents a novel species for which the name Rhizobium vignae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CCBAU 05176T (=HAMBI 3039T=LMG 25447T).

Rhizobium sphaerophysae sp. nov., a novel species isolated from root nodules of Sphaerophysa salsula in China

Four gram-negative, aerobic, motile, non-spore, forming rods with a wide pH and temperature range for growth (pH 7.0-11.0, optimum pH 8.0; 20-45°C, optimum 28°C) strains were isolated from root nodules of Sphaerophysa salsula and characterized by means of a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the four strains formed a new lineage related to the genus Rhizobium and the sequence similarities between the isolate and the most related type strain Rhizobium giardinii was 96.5%. These strains also formed a distinctive group from the reference strains for defined Rhizobium species based on housekeeping gene sequences (atpD and recA), BOX-PCR fingerprinting, phenotypic features and symbiotic properties. The representative strain CCNWGS0238(T) has DNA-DNA relatedness of less than 33.4% with the most closely related species R. giardinii. It is therefore proposed as a new species, Rhizobium sphaerophysae sp. nov., with isolate CCNWGS0238(T) (=ACCC17498(T) = HAMBI3074(T)) as the type strain.

Rhizobium pseudoryzae sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of rice

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain J3-A127(T), was isolated from the roots of fresh rice plants (Oryza sativa). Cells were non-motile and no flagellum was detected. Comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain was phylogenetically related to species of the genus Rhizobium, with closest similarity to Rhizobium oryzae Alt 505(T) (96.4 %). The low levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (<90 %) found between the gyrB, atpD, recA and glnII gene sequences of strain J3-A127(T) and the type strains of recognized species of the genus Rhizobium also indicated that it represented a separate species. The temperature range for growth was 10-40 °C (optimum around 28 °C) and the pH range was 6.0-11.0 (optimum pH 7.0-8.0). Strain J3-A127(T) tolerated NaCl concentrations up to 5.0 % (w/v). The strain was catalase- and oxidase-positive. The main cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C(18 : 1)ω7c and/or C(18 : 1)ω6; 46.7 %). The DNA G+C content of strain J3-A127(T) was 59.5 mol%. Strain J3-A127(T) did not form any nodules on four different legumes and the nodD and nifH genes were not detected by PCR. According to physiological and biochemical characteristics and genotypic data, strain J3-A127(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Rhizobium, for which the name Rhizobium pseudoryzae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is J3-A127(T) ( = ACCC 10380(T) = KCTC 23294(T)).