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Zhang C, Yu X, Laipan M, Wei T, Guo J. Soil health improvement by inoculation of indigenous microalgae in saline soil. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2024; 46:23. [PMID: 38225518 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-023-01790-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Using biological methods to improve saline soils is recognized as an eco-friendly and sustainable way. In this study, two indigenous algae YJ-1 and YJ-2 screened from salinized farmland were inoculated into saline soils with different salinization levels to investigate their potential in enhancing soil health by laboratory microcosm experiment. The results showed that individual inoculation of the two algae quickly resulted in the formation of algal crusts, and the chlorophyll content in the saline soils gradually increased with the incubation time. The soil pH decreased significantly from the initial 8.15-9.45 to 6.97-7.56 after 60-day incubation. The exopolysaccharides secretion and the activities of catalase, sucrase, and urease in saline soils also increased. Microalgal inoculation increased soil organic matter storage, while decreasing the available nutrient contents possibly due to the depletion of microalgal growth. PCA and PCC results identified that microalgal biomass as the predominant variable affecting soil quality. Overall, these data revealed the great potential of microalgae in the amelioration of saline soils, especially in pH reduction and enzyme activity enhancement. This study will provide the theoretical foundation for improving saline soils via algalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xianwei Yu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, People's Republic of China
| | - Minwang Laipan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Wei
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, People's Republic of China
| | - Junkang Guo
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, People's Republic of China
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Salty Twins: Salt-Tolerance of Terrestrial Cyanocohniella Strains (Cyanobacteria) and Description of C. rudolphia sp. nov. Point towards a Marine Origin of the Genus and Terrestrial Long Distance Dispersal Patterns. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10050968. [PMID: 35630411 PMCID: PMC9144741 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10050968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to adapt to wide ranges of environmental conditions coupled with their long evolution has allowed cyanobacteria to colonize almost every habitat on Earth. Modern taxonomy tries to track not only this diversification process but also to assign individual cyanobacteria to specific niches. It was our aim to work out a potential niche concept for the genus Cyanocohniella in terms of salt tolerance. We used a strain based on the description of C. rudolphia sp. nov. isolated from a potash tailing pile (Germany) and for comparison C. crotaloides that was isolated from sandy beaches (The Netherlands). The taxonomic position of C. rudolphia sp. nov. was evaluated by phylogenetic analysis and morphological descriptions of its life cycle. Salt tolerance of C. rudolphia sp. nov. and C. crotaloides was monitored with cultivation assays in liquid medium and on sand under salt concentrations ranging from 0% to 12% (1500 mM) NaCl. Optimum growth conditions were detected for both strains at 4% (500 mM) NaCl based on morpho-anatomical and physiological criteria such as photosynthetic yield by chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements. Taking into consideration that all known strains of this genus colonize salty habitats supports our assumption that the genus might have a marine origin but also expands colonization to salty terrestrial habitats. This aspect is further discussed, including the ecological and biotechnological relevance of the data presented.
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Shahbazi M, Tohidfar M, Azimzadeh Irani M. Identification of the key functional genes in salt-stress tolerance of Cyanobacterium Phormidium tenue using in silico analysis. 3 Biotech 2021; 11:503. [PMID: 34881166 PMCID: PMC8602552 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-021-03050-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of artificial biocrust using cyanobacterium Phormidium tenue has been suggested as an effective strategy to prevent soil degradation. Here, a combination of in silico approaches with growth rate, photosynthetic pigment, morphology, and transcript analysis was used to identify specific genes and their protein products in response to 500 mM NaCl in P. tenue. The results show that 500 mM NaCl induces the expression of genes encoding glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (glpD) as a Flavoprotein, ribosomal protein S12 methylthiotransferase (rimO), and a hypothetical protein (sll0939). The constructed co-expression network revealed a group of abiotic stress-responsive genes. Using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST), the homologous proteins of rimO, glpD, and sll0939 were identified in the P. tenue genome. Encoded proteins of glpD, rimO, and DUF1622 genes, respectively, contain (DAO and DAO C), (UPF0004, Radical SAM and TRAM 2), and (DUF1622) domains. The predicted ligand included 22B and MG for DUF1622, FS5 for rimO, and FAD for glpD protein. There was no direct disruption in ligand-binding sites of these proteins by Na+, Cl-, or NaCl. The growth rate, photosynthetic pigment, and morphology of P. tenue were investigated, and the result showed an acceptable tolerance rate of this microorganism under salt stress. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) results revealed the up-regulation of glpD, rimO, and DUF1622 genes under salt stress. This is the first report on computational and experimental analyses of the glpD, rimO, and DUF1622 genes in P. tenue under salt stress to the best of our knowledge. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-03050-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrdad Shahbazi
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, 1983969411 Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Tohidfar
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, 1983969411 Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Azimzadeh Irani
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, 1983969411 Tehran, Iran
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Van AT, Sommer V, Glaser K. The Ecophysiological Performance and Traits of Genera within the Stichococcus-like Clade (Trebouxiophyceae) under Matric and Osmotic Stress. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1816. [PMID: 34576715 PMCID: PMC8472729 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in water balance are some of the most critical challenges that aeroterrestrial algae face. They have a wide variety of mechanisms to protect against osmotic stress, including, but not limited to, downregulating photosynthesis, the production of compatible solutes, spore and akinete formation, biofilms, as well as triggering structural cellular changes. In comparison, algae living in saline environments must cope with ionic stress, which has similar effects on the physiology as desiccation in addition to sodium and chloride ion toxicity. These environmental challenges define ecological niches for both specialist and generalist algae. One alga known to be aeroterrestrial and euryhaline is Stichococcus bacillaris Nägeli, possessing the ability to withstand both matric and osmotic stresses, which may contribute to wide distribution worldwide. Following taxonomic revision of Stichococcus into seven lineages, we here examined their physiological responses to osmotic and matric stress through a salt growth challenge and desiccation experiment. The results demonstrate that innate compatible solute production capacity under salt stress and desiccation tolerance are independent of one another, and that salt tolerance is more variable than desiccation tolerance in the Stichococcus-like genera. Furthermore, algae within this group likely occupy similar ecological niches, with the exception of Pseudostichococcus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anh Tu Van
- Institute for Biological Sciences, Applied Ecology and Phycology, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany; (V.S.); (K.G.)
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Pushkareva E, Sommer V, Barrantes I, Karsten U. Diversity of Microorganisms in Biocrusts Surrounding Highly Saline Potash Tailing Piles in Germany. Microorganisms 2021; 9:714. [PMID: 33808463 PMCID: PMC8066527 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9040714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Potash tailing piles located in Germany represent extremely hypersaline locations that negatively affect neighbouring environments and limit the development of higher vegetation. However, biocrusts, as cryptogamic covers, inhabit some of these areas and provide essential ecological functions, but, nevertheless, they remain poorly described. Here, we applied high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and targeted four groups of microorganisms: bacteria, cyanobacteria, fungi and other eukaryotes. The sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene revealed the dominance of Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Actinobacteria. Additionally, we applied yanobacteria-specific primers for a detailed assessment of the cyanobacterial community, which was dominated by members of the filamentous orders Synechococcales and Oscillatoriales. Furthermore, the majority of reads in the studied biocrusts obtained by sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene belonged to eukaryotic microalgae. In addition, sequencing of the internal rDNA transcribed spacer region (ITS) showed the dominance of Ascomycota within the fungal community. Overall, these molecular data provided the first detailed overview of microorganisms associated with biocrusts inhabiting highly saline potash tailing piles and showed the dissimilarities in microbial diversity among the samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Pushkareva
- Department of Applied Ecology and Phycology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany; (V.S.); (U.K.)
- Department of Biology, Botanical Institute, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Veronika Sommer
- Department of Applied Ecology and Phycology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany; (V.S.); (U.K.)
| | - Israel Barrantes
- Research Group Translational Bioinformatics, Institute for Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany;
| | - Ulf Karsten
- Department of Applied Ecology and Phycology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany; (V.S.); (U.K.)
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Mehda S, Muñoz-Martín MÁ, Oustani M, Hamdi-Aïssa B, Perona E, Mateo P. Microenvironmental Conditions Drive the Differential Cyanobacterial Community Composition of Biocrusts from the Sahara Desert. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9030487. [PMID: 33669110 PMCID: PMC7996595 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9030487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The Sahara Desert is characterized by extreme environmental conditions, which are a unique challenge for life. Cyanobacteria are key players in the colonization of bare soils and form assemblages with other microorganisms in the top millimetres, establishing biological soil crusts (biocrusts) that cover most soil surfaces in deserts, which have important roles in the functioning of drylands. However, knowledge of biocrusts from these extreme environments is limited. Therefore, to study cyanobacterial community composition in biocrusts from the Sahara Desert, we utilized a combination of methodologies in which taxonomic assignation, for next-generation sequencing of soil samples, was based on phylogenetic analysis (16S rRNA gene) in parallel with morphological identification of cyanobacteria in natural samples and isolates from certain locations. Two close locations that differed in microenvironmental conditions were analysed. One was a dry salt lake (a “chott”), and the other was an extension of sandy, slightly saline soil. Differences in cyanobacterial composition between the sites were found, with a clear dominance of Microcoleus spp. in the less saline site, while the chott presented a high abundance of heterocystous cyanobacteria as well as the filamentous non-heterocystous Pseudophormidium sp. and the unicellular cf. Acaryochloris. The cyanobacteria found in our study area, such as Microcoleus steenstrupii, Microcoleus vaginatus, Scytonema hyalinum, Tolypothrix distorta, and Calothrix sp., are also widely distributed in other geographic locations around the world, where the conditions are less severe. Our results, therefore, indicated that some cyanobacteria can cope with polyextreme conditions, as confirmed by bioassays, and can be considered extremotolerant, being able to live in a wide range of conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smail Mehda
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (S.M.); (M.Á.M.-M.); (E.P.)
- Laboratory of Biogeochemistry of Desert Areas, University of Ouargla, 30000 Ouargla, Algeria;
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Life and Natural Sciences, University of El Oued, 39000 El Oued, Algeria
| | - Maria Ángeles Muñoz-Martín
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (S.M.); (M.Á.M.-M.); (E.P.)
| | - Mabrouka Oustani
- Laboratory of Saharan Bio-Resources: Preservation and Development, University of Ouargla, 30000 Ouargla, Algeria;
| | - Baelhadj Hamdi-Aïssa
- Laboratory of Biogeochemistry of Desert Areas, University of Ouargla, 30000 Ouargla, Algeria;
| | - Elvira Perona
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (S.M.); (M.Á.M.-M.); (E.P.)
| | - Pilar Mateo
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (S.M.); (M.Á.M.-M.); (E.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-914978184
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Sommer V, Mikhailyuk T, Glaser K, Karsten U. Uncovering Unique Green Algae and Cyanobacteria Isolated from Biocrusts in Highly Saline Potash Tailing Pile Habitats, Using an Integrative Approach. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1667. [PMID: 33121104 PMCID: PMC7692164 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Potash tailing piles caused by fertilizer production shape their surroundings because of the associated salt impact. A previous study in these environments addressed the functional community "biocrust" comprising various micro- and macro-organisms inhabiting the soil surface. In that previous study, biocrust microalgae and cyanobacteria were isolated and morphologically identified amongst an ecological discussion. However, morphological species identification maybe is difficult because of phenotypic plasticity, which might lead to misidentifications. The present study revisited the earlier species list using an integrative approach, including molecular methods. Seventy-six strains were sequenced using the markers small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS). Phylogenetic analyses confirmed some morphologically identified species. However, several other strains could only be identified at the genus level. This indicates a high proportion of possibly unknown taxa, underlined by the low congruence of the previous morphological identifications to our results. In general, the integrative approach resulted in more precise species identifications and should be considered as an extension of the previous morphological species list. The majority of taxa found were common in saline habitats, whereas some were more likely to occur in nonsaline environments. Consequently, biocrusts in saline environments of potash tailing piles contain unique microalgae and cyanobacteria that will possibly reveal several new taxa in more detailed future studies and, hence, provide new data on the biodiversity, as well as new candidates for applied research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Sommer
- Institute for Biological Sciences, Applied Ecology and Phycology, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany; (V.S.); (K.G.)
- upi UmweltProjekt Ingenieursgesellschaft mbH, 39576 Stendal, Germany
| | - Tatiana Mikhailyuk
- National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, 01601 Kyiv, Ukraine;
| | - Karin Glaser
- Institute for Biological Sciences, Applied Ecology and Phycology, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany; (V.S.); (K.G.)
| | - Ulf Karsten
- Institute for Biological Sciences, Applied Ecology and Phycology, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany; (V.S.); (K.G.)
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