Soil Microbes Drive the Flourishing Growth of Plants From Leucocalocybe mongolica Fairy Ring

Exploring the diversity and potential functional characteristics of microbiota associated with different compartments of Schisandra chinensis

Introduction

Symbiotic microbial have a significant impact on the growth and metabolism of medicinal plants. Schisandra chinensis is a very functionally rich medicinal herb; however, its microbial composition and diversity have been poorly studied.

Methods

In the present study, the core microbiomes associated with the rhizospheric soil, roots, stems, leaves, and fruits of S. chinensis from six geographic locations were analyzed by a macro-genomics approach.

Results

Alpha and beta diversity analyses showed that the diversity of microbial composition of S. chinensis fruits did not differ significantly among the geographic locations as compared to that in different plant compartments. Principal coordinate analysis showed that the microbial communities of S. chinensis fruits from the different ecological locations were both similar and independent. In all S. chinensis samples, Proteobacteria was the most dominant bacterial phylum, and Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the most dominant fungal phyla. Nitrospira, Bradyrhizobium, Sphingomonas, and Pseudomonas were the marker bacterial populations in rhizospheric soils, roots, stems and leaves, and fruits, respectively, and Penicillium, Golubevia, and Cladosporium were the marker fungal populations in the rhizospheric soil and roots, stems and leaves, and fruits, respectively. Functional analyses showed a high abundance of the microbiota mainly in biosynthesis.

Discussion

The present study determined the fungal structure of the symbiotic microbiome of S. chinensis, which is crucial for improving the yield and quality of S. chinensis.

Integrated management of fruit trees and Bletilla striata: implications for soil nutrient profiles and microbial community structures

Introduction

Forest medicinal compound systems in agroforestry ecosystems represent a multi-layered cultivation approach that utilizes forest resources efficiently. However, research on how these systems affect soil nutrients and microbial communities is limited.

Methods

This study compared the soil chemical properties and microbial communities of Bletilla striata (C) grown alone versus in agroforestry systems with apple (PB), pear (LB), and peach trees (TB), aiming to understand the impact of these systems on soil health and microbial diversity.

Results

Soil in the GAB systems showed increased levels of essential nutrients but lower pH and ammonium nitrogen levels compared to the control. Significant improvements in organic matter, total phosphorus, and total potassium were observed in TB, PB, and LB systems, respectively. The bacterial diversity increased in GAB systems, with significant changes in microbial phyla indicative of a healthier soil ecosystem. The correlation between soil properties and bacterial communities was stronger than with fungal communities.

Discussion

Integrating B. striata with fruit trees enhances soil nutrients and microbial diversity but may lead to soil acidification. Adjustments such as using controlled-release fertilizers and soil amendments like lime could mitigate negative impacts, improving soil health in GAB systems.

Maize-peanut rotational strip intercropping improves peanut growth and soil properties by optimizing microbial community diversity

Rotational strip intercropping (RSI) of cereals and legumes has been developed and widely carried out to alleviate continuous cropping obstacles, to control erosion and to improve field use efficiency. In this study, a four-year fixed-field experiment was carried out in northeast China with three treatments: continuous cropping of maize, continuous cropping of peanuts and rotational strip intercropping of maize and peanut. The results show that crop rotation improved the main-stem height, branch number, lateral branch length, and yield and quality of peanuts; the yield was the highest in 2018, when it was increased by 39.5%. RSI improved the contents of total N, available N, total P, available P, total K and available K; the content of available N was the highest in 2018, with an increase of 70%. Rhizosphere soil urease and catalase activities were significantly increased and were the highest in 2017, reaching 183.13% and 91.21%, respectively. According to a high-throughput sequencing analysis, the rhizosphere soil bacterial richness and specific OTUs decreased in peanut rhizosphere soil, while the fungal increased. There were differences in the bacterial and fungal community structures; specifically, the abundance of Acidobacteria and Planctomycetes increased among bacteria and the abundance of beneficial microorganisms such as Ascomycota increased among fungi. In conclusion, rotational strip intercropping of maize and peanut increased the yield and quality of peanuts and conducive to alleviating the obstacles facing the continuous cropping of peanuts. Among then, soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activity and microbial diversity were significantly affected the yield of peanut.