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Enagbonma BJ, Fadiji AE, Babalola OO. Anthropogenic fertilization influences a shift in barley rhizosphere microbial communities. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17303. [PMID: 39006020 PMCID: PMC11246026 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Anthropogenic mediations contribute a significant role in stimulating positive reactions in soil-plant interactions; however, methodical reports on how anthropogenic activities impact soil microorganism-induced properties and soil health are still inadequate. In this study, we evaluated the influence of anthropogenic fertilization of farmland soil on barley rhizosphere microbial community structure and diversity, and the significant impacts on agro-ecosystem productivity. This will help validate the premise that soil amendment with prolonged synthetic fertilizers can lead to a significant reduction in bacterial abundance and diversity, while soils amended with organic fertilizers elicit the succession of the native soil microbial community and favor the growth of copiotrophic bacteria. Methods The total metagenomic DNA was extracted from soils obtained from the barley rhizosphere under chemical fertilization (CB), organic fertilization (OB), and bulk soil (NB). Subsequently, these samples were sequenced using an amplicon-based sequencing approach, and the raw sequence dataset was examined using a metagenomic rast server (MG-RAST). Results Our findings showed that all environments (CB, OB, and NB) shared numerous soil bacterial phyla but with different compositions. However, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria predominated in the barley rhizosphere under chemical fertilization, organic fertilization, and bulk soils, respectively. Alpha and beta diversity analysis showed that the diversity of bacteria under organic barley rhizosphere was significantly higher and more evenly distributed than bacteria under chemical fertilization and bulk soil. Conclusion Understanding the impact of conventional and organic fertilizers on the structure, composition, and diversity of the rhizosphere microbiome will assist in soil engineering to enhance microbial diversity in the agroecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Jesuorsemwen Enagbonma
- Food Security and Safety Focus Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, North-West Province, South Africa
| | - Ayomide Emmanuel Fadiji
- Food Security and Safety Focus Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, North-West Province, South Africa
| | - Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
- Food Security and Safety Focus Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, North-West Province, South Africa
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Enagbonma BJ, Fadiji AE, Ayangbenro AS, Babalola OO. Communication between Plants and Rhizosphere Microbiome: Exploring the Root Microbiome for Sustainable Agriculture. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2003. [PMID: 37630562 PMCID: PMC10458600 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11082003] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant roots host numerous microorganisms around and inside their roots, forming a community known as the root microbiome. An increasing bulk of research is underlining the influences root-associated microbial communities can have on plant health and development. However, knowledge on how plant roots and their associated microbes interact to bring about crop growth and yield is limited. Here, we presented (i) the communication strategies between plant roots and root-associated microbes and (ii) the applications of plant root-associated microbes in enhancing plant growth and yield. This review has been divided into three main sections: communications between root microbiome and plant root; the mechanism employed by root-associated microbes; and the chemical communication mechanisms between plants and microbes and their application in plant growth and yield. Understanding how plant root and root-associated microbes communicate is vital in designing ecofriendly strategies for targeted disease suppression and improved plant growth that will help in sustainable agriculture. Ensuring that plants become healthy and productive entails keeping plants under surveillance around the roots to recognize disease-causing microbes and similarly exploit the services of beneficial microorganisms in nutrient acquisition, stress mitigation, and growth promotion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
- Food Security and Safety Focus Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Mail Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
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Enagbonma BJ, Babalola OO. Metagenomics Reveals the Microbiome Multifunctionalities of Environmental Importance From Termite Mound Soils. Bioinform Biol Insights 2023; 17:11779322231184025. [PMID: 37424707 PMCID: PMC10328015 DOI: 10.1177/11779322231184025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The ecological deterioration caused by the continuous and excessive use of synthetic inputs in agriculture has prompted the search for environmentally favorable resources for crop production. Many have advocated for the use of soils from termite mounds to improve soil and plant health; therefore, the purpose of this study was to characterize the microbiome multifunctionalities that are important for plant health and growth in termite mound soil. The metagenomics of soil from termite mounds revealed taxonomic groups with functional potentials associated with promoting the growth and health of plants in nutrient-poor, virtually dry environments. Analysis of microorganisms revealed that Proteobacteria dominated the soil of termite colonies, while Actinobacteria ranked second. The predominance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, the well-known antibiotic-producing populations, indicates that the termite mound soil microbiome possesses metabolic resistance to biotic stresses. Functions recognized for diverse proteins and genes unveiled that a multi-functional microbiome carry out numerous metabolic functions including virulence, disease, defense, aromatic compound and iron metabolism, secondary metabolite synthesis, and stress response. The abundance of genes in termite mound soils associated with these prominent functions could unquestionably validate the enhancement of plants in abiotic and biotically stressed environments. This study reveals opportunities to revisit the multifunctionalities of termite mound soils in order to establish a connection between taxonomic diversity, targeted functions, and genes that could improve plant yield and health in unfavorable soil conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Jesuorsemwen Enagbonma
- Food Security and Safety Focus Area, Faculty of Natural and
Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
- Food Security and Safety Focus Area, Faculty of Natural and
Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
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Yu QZ, Hu MY, Wang L, Lin JQ, Fang SG. Incubation determines favorable microbial communities in Chinese alligator nests. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:983808. [PMID: 36312961 PMCID: PMC9606745 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.983808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nest materials are a major heat source due to rotting promoted by microbial activity. Additionally, they are a potential microbial source given their direct contact with eggshells. Microbial dynamics during incubation have been studied in wild birds; however, similar studies in reptiles remain elusive. Here, the study characterized microbial communities in the nest materials of Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) using high-throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes and fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences. The results showed that significant changes in the diversity and structure of microbial communities according to different incubation periods. The diversity and richness of bacterial species increased significantly over time, but the relative abundance of the most dominant bacteria in pre-incubation period, including some pathogenic bacteria, declined after incubation. In contrast, fungal species diversity and richness decreased significantly with time. Additionally, nest material composition significantly influenced microbial community structure rather than species diversity and richness. Notably, the fungal community structure showed a stronger response than bacteria to nest material composition, which varied due to differences in plant litter composition. Our results demonstrate the significant response of microbial community diversity and structure to differences in incubation periods and nest material composition in reptiles. It is further emphasized that the importance of incubation period in the conservation of the Chinese alligator and could inform similar studies in other reptiles and birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin-Zhang Yu
- The Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife of the Ministry of Education, State Conservation Center for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Meng-Yuan Hu
- The Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife of the Ministry of Education, State Conservation Center for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife of the Ministry of Education, State Conservation Center for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jian-Qing Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Science, Shantou University, Shantou, China
| | - Sheng-Guo Fang
- The Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife of the Ministry of Education, State Conservation Center for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Zheng X, Zhu Q, Qin M, Zhou Z, Liu C, Wang L, Shi F. The Role of Feeding Characteristics in Shaping Gut Microbiota Composition and Function of Ensifera (Orthoptera). INSECTS 2022; 13:719. [PMID: 36005344 PMCID: PMC9409189 DOI: 10.3390/insects13080719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Feeding habits were the primary factor affecting the gut bacterial communities in Ensifera. However, the interaction mechanism between the gut microbiota and feeding characteristics is not precisely understood. Here, the gut microbiota of Ensifera with diverse feeding habits was analyzed by shotgun metagenomic sequencing to further clarify the composition and function of the gut microbiota and its relationship with feeding characteristics. Our results indicate that under the influence of feeding habits, the gut microbial communities of Ensifera showed specific characteristics. Firstly, the gut microbial communities of the Ensifera with different feeding habits differed significantly, among which the gut microbial diversity of the herbivorous Mecopoda niponensis was the highest. Secondly, the functional genes related to feeding habits were in high abundance. Thirdly, the specific function of the gut microbial species in the omnivorous Gryllotalpa orientalis showed that the more diverse the feeding behavior of Ensifera, the worse the functional specificity related to the feeding characteristics of its gut microbiota. However, feeding habits were not the only factors affecting the gut microbiota of Ensifera. Some microorganisms' genes, whose functions were unrelated to feeding characteristics but were relevant to energy acquisition and nutrient absorption, were detected in high abundance. Our results were the first to report on the composition and function of the gut microbiota of Ensifera based on shotgun metagenomic sequencing and to explore the potential mechanism of the gut microbiota's association with diverse feeding habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
- Laboratory of Enzyme Preparation, Hebei Research Institute of Microbiology Co., Ltd., Baoding 071051, China
| | - Qidi Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Meng Qin
- Laboratory of Enzyme Preparation, Hebei Research Institute of Microbiology Co., Ltd., Baoding 071051, China
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, China
| | - Zhijun Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Chunmao Liu
- Laboratory of Enzyme Preparation, Hebei Research Institute of Microbiology Co., Ltd., Baoding 071051, China
| | - Liyuan Wang
- Laboratory of Enzyme Preparation, Hebei Research Institute of Microbiology Co., Ltd., Baoding 071051, China
| | - Fuming Shi
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
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Li H, Greening C. Termite-engineered microbial communities of termite nest structures: a new dimension to the extended phenotype. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6631553. [PMID: 35790132 PMCID: PMC9779920 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Termites are a prototypical example of the 'extended phenotype' given their ability to shape their environments by constructing complex nesting structures and cultivating fungus gardens. Such engineered structures provide termites with stable, protected habitats, and nutritious food sources, respectively. Recent studies have suggested that these termite-engineered structures harbour Actinobacteria-dominated microbial communities. In this review, we describe the composition, activities, and consequences of microbial communities associated with termite mounds, other nests, and fungus gardens. Culture-dependent and culture-independent studies indicate that these structures each harbour specialized microbial communities distinct from those in termite guts and surrounding soils. Termites select microbial communities in these structures through various means: opportunistic recruitment from surrounding soils; controlling physicochemical properties of nesting structures; excreting hydrogen, methane, and other gases as bacterial energy sources; and pretreating lignocellulose to facilitate fungal cultivation in gardens. These engineered communities potentially benefit termites by producing antimicrobial compounds, facilitating lignocellulose digestion, and enhancing energetic efficiency of the termite 'metaorganism'. Moreover, mound-associated communities have been shown to be globally significant in controlling emissions of methane and enhancing agricultural fertility. Altogether, these considerations suggest that the microbiomes selected by some animals extend much beyond their bodies, providing a new dimension to the 'extended phenotype'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjie Li
- Corresponding author. State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211. China. E-mail:
| | - Chris Greening
- Corresponding author. Department of Microbiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia. E-mail:
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Iquebal MA, Jagannadham J, Jaiswal S, Prabha R, Rai A, Kumar D. Potential Use of Microbial Community Genomes in Various Dimensions of Agriculture Productivity and Its Management: A Review. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:708335. [PMID: 35655999 PMCID: PMC9152772 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.708335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Agricultural productivity is highly influenced by its associated microbial community. With advancements in omics technology, metagenomics is known to play a vital role in microbial world studies by unlocking the uncultured microbial populations present in the environment. Metagenomics is a diagnostic tool to target unique signature loci of plant and animal pathogens as well as beneficial microorganisms from samples. Here, we reviewed various aspects of metagenomics from experimental methods to techniques used for sequencing, as well as diversified computational resources, including databases and software tools. Exhaustive focus and study are conducted on the application of metagenomics in agriculture, deciphering various areas, including pathogen and plant disease identification, disease resistance breeding, plant pest control, weed management, abiotic stress management, post-harvest management, discoveries in agriculture, source of novel molecules/compounds, biosurfactants and natural product, identification of biosynthetic molecules, use in genetically modified crops, and antibiotic-resistant genes. Metagenomics-wide association studies study in agriculture on crop productivity rates, intercropping analysis, and agronomic field is analyzed. This article is the first of its comprehensive study and prospects from an agriculture perspective, focusing on a wider range of applications of metagenomics and its association studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mir Asif Iquebal
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Jaisri Jagannadham
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Sarika Jaiswal
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Ratna Prabha
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Anil Rai
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Dinesh Kumar
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
- School of Interdisciplinary and Applied Sciences, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, Haryana, India
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Metagenomic Survey of Tomato Rhizosphere Microbiome Using the Shotgun Approach. Microbiol Resour Announc 2022; 11:e0113121. [PMID: 35112900 PMCID: PMC8812306 DOI: 10.1128/mra.01131-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Food sustainability, e.g., fruit and vegetables, is a major agricultural problem that requires monitoring. Rhizosphere microbiomes' abundance and functionality are essential in promoting tomato plants' growth and health. We selected farms in South Africa's North West Province and present the metagenomes of their tomato rhizospheres and associated functional potentials.
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Metagenomic Study of the Community Structure and Functional Potentials in Maize Rhizosphere Microbiome: Elucidation of Mechanisms behind the Improvement in Plants under Normal and Stress Conditions. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13148079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The community of microbes in the rhizosphere region is diverse and contributes significantly to plant growth and crop production. Being an important staple and economic crop, the maize rhizosphere microbiota has been studied in the past using culture-dependent techniques. However, these limited culturing methods often do not help in understanding the complex community of microbes in the rhizosphere. Moreover, the vital biogeochemical processes carried out by these organisms are yet to be fully characterized. Herein, shotgun metagenomics, which enables the holistic study of several microbial environments, was employed to examine the community structure and functional potentials of microbes in the maize rhizosphere and to assess the influence of environmental variables on these. The dominant microbial phyla found in the soil environments include Actinobacteria, Microsporidia, Bacteroidetes, Thaumarchaeota, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Carbohydrate metabolism, protein metabolism and stress metabolism constitute the major functional categories in the environments. The beta diversity analysis indicated significant differences (p = 0.01) in the community structure and functional categories across the samples. A correlation was seen between the physical and chemical properties of the soil, and the structural and functional diversities. The canonical correspondence analysis carried out showed that phosphorus, N-NO3, potassium and organic matter were the soil properties that best influenced the structural and functional diversities of the soil microbes. It can be inferred from this study that the maize rhizosphere is a hotspot for microorganisms of agricultural and biotechnological importance which can be used as bioinoculants for sustainable agriculture.
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Khattab AR, Farag MA. Marine and terrestrial endophytic fungi: a mine of bioactive xanthone compounds, recent progress, limitations, and novel applications. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2021; 42:403-430. [PMID: 34266351 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2021.1940087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Endophytic fungi are a kind of fungi that colonizes living plant tissues presenting a myriad of microbial adaptations that have been developed in such a hidden environment. Owing to its large diversity and particular habituation, they present a golden mine for research in the field of drug discovery. Endophytic fungal communities possess unique biocatalytic machinery that furnishes a myriad of complex natural product scaffolds. Xanthone compounds are examples of endophytic secondary metabolic products with pronounced biological activity to include: antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, antiulcer, choleretic, diuretic, and monoamine oxidase inhibiting activity.The current review compiles the recent progress made on the microbiological production of xanthones using fungal endophytes obtained from both marine and terrestrial origins, with comparisons being made among both natural resources. The biosynthesis of xanthones in endophytic fungi is outlined along with its decoding enzymes. Biotransformation reactions reported to be carried out using different endophytic microbial models are also outlined for xanthones structural modification purposes and the production of novel molecules.A promising application of novel computational tools is presented as a future direction for the goal of optimizing microbial xanthones production to include establishing metabolic pathway databases and the in silico analysis of microbial interactions. Metagenomics methods and related bioinformatics platforms are highlighted as unexplored tools for the biodiversity analysis of endophytic microbial communities that are difficult to be cultured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira R Khattab
- Pharmacognosy Department, College of Pharmacy, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A Farag
- Pharmacognosy Department, College of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.,Chemistry Department, School of Sciences & Engineering, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo, Egypt
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Akinola SA, Ayangbenro AS, Babalola OO. The diverse functional genes of maize rhizosphere microbiota assessed using shotgun metagenomics. JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2021; 101:3193-3201. [PMID: 33215702 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.10948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The geographical diversification in chemical, biological and physical properties of plant biospheres instigates heterogenicity in the proliferation of important soil microbiome. Controlling functions and structure of plant rhizosphere from a better understanding and prediction of a plant's immediate environment will help assess plant-microbe interplay, improve the productivity of plant ecosystems and improve plant response to adverse soil conditions. Here we characterized functional genes of the microbial community of maize rhizosphere using a culture-independent method. RESULTS Our metadata showed microbial genes involved in nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, quorum sensing molecules, trehalose, siderophore production, phenazine biosynthesis protein, daunorubicin resistance, acetoin, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase, 4-hydroxybenzoate, disease control and stress-reducing genes (superoxidase dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, etc.). β-Diversity showed that there is a highly significant difference between most of the genes mined from rhizosphere soil samples and surrounding soils. CONCLUSIONS The high relative abundance of stress-reducing genes mined from this study showed that the sampling sites harbor not only important plant-beneficial organisms but also a hotspot for developing bio-fertilizers. Nevertheless, since most of these organisms are unculturable, mapping cultivation strategies for their growth could make them readily available as bio-inoculants and possible biotechnological applications in the future. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saheed Adekunle Akinola
- Food Security and Safety Niche, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Ayansina Segun Ayangbenro
- Food Security and Safety Niche, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
- Food Security and Safety Niche, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
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Fadiji AE, Kanu JO, Babalola OO. Impact of cropping systems on the functional diversity of rhizosphere microbial communities associated with maize plant: a shotgun approach. Arch Microbiol 2021; 203:3605-3613. [PMID: 33973044 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-021-02354-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the functions carried out by rhizosphere microbiomes will further explore their importance in biotechnological improvement and agricultural sustainability. This study presents one of the foremost attempts to understand the functional diversity of the rhizosphere microbiome in mono-cropping and crop rotation farming sites using shotgun metagenomic techniques. We hypothesized that the functional diversity would vary in the cropping sites and more abundant in the rotational cropping site. Hence, we carried out complete DNA extraction from the bulk and rhizospheric soils associated with maize plant cultivated on the mono-cropping farm (LT and LTc) and the crop rotation farm (VD and VDc), respectively, and sequenced employing shotgun approach. Using the SEED subsystem, our result revealed that a total of 24 functional categories dominated the rotational cropping site, while four functional categories dominated the mono-cropping sites. Alpha diversity assessment showed that no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed across the cropping sites, while beta diversity assessment revealed a significant difference. Going by the high abundance of functional groups observed in the samples from the crop rotational site, it is evident that cropping systems influenced the functions of soil microbiomes. Worthy of note is the high abundance of unknown functions associated with these maize rhizosphere microbiomes. This is an indication that there are still some under-investigated functional genes associated with the maize rhizosphere microbiome. It is, therefore, imperative that further studies explore these functional genes for their agricultural and biotechnological potentials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayomide Emmanuel Fadiji
- Food Security and Safety Niche, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Mail Bag X2046, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Jerry Onyemaechi Kanu
- Food Security and Safety Niche, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Mail Bag X2046, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
- Food Security and Safety Niche, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Mail Bag X2046, Mmabatho, South Africa.
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Shotgun Sequencing Revealed the Microbiota of Zea mays Rhizosphere of a Former Grassland and an Intensively Cultivated Agricultural Land. Microbiol Resour Announc 2020; 9:9/49/e01058-20. [PMID: 33272993 PMCID: PMC7714847 DOI: 10.1128/mra.01058-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Land use is a major factor contributing to the differences in soil microbial assemblages. Despite the importance of microbial communities on crop health and productivity, a knowledge gap exists on the effects of land use change on microbial functions in the rhizosphere. This data set presents the metagenomic data from two maize fields in South Africa with different agricultural histories. It provides an opportunity for modeling microbes with beneficial functions that could enhance crop productivity.
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Guimaraes HIP, Santana RH, Silveira R, Pinto OHB, Quirino BF, Barreto CC, Bustamante MMDC, Krüger RH. Seasonal Variations in Soil Microbiota Profile of Termite ( Syntermes wheeleri) Mounds in the Brazilian Tropical Savanna. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1482. [PMID: 32992494 PMCID: PMC7600031 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8101482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Eusocial animals, such as the termites, often build a nest-like structure called a mound that provides shelter with stable internal conditions and protection against predators. Termites are important components of the Brazilian Cerrado biota. This study aimed to investigate the bacterial community composition and diversity of the Syntermes wheeleri termite-mound soil using culture-independent approaches. We considered the vertical profile by comparing two different mound depths (mound surface and 60 cm) and seasonality with samplings during the rainy and dry seasons. We compared the mound soil microbiota to the adjacent soil without the influence of the mound to test the hypothesis that the Cerrado soil bacterial community was more diverse and more susceptible to seasonality than the mound soil microbiota. The results support the hypothesis that the Cerrado soil bacterial community is more diverse than the mound soil and also has a higher variability among seasons. The number of observed OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units) was used to express bacterial richness, and it indicates that soil moisture has an effect on the community distribution and richness of the Cerrado samples in comparison to mound samples, which remain stable across seasons. This could be a consequence of the protective role of the mound for the termite colony. The overall community taxonomic profile was similar between soil samples, especially when compared to the taxonomic composition of the Syntermes wheeleri termite's gut, which might be explained by the different characteristics and functionality between the soil and the gut microbial community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Ipe Pinheiro Guimaraes
- Cellular Biology Department, University of Brasilia, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília D.F. 70910-900, Brazil; (H.I.P.G.); (O.H.B.P.)
| | | | - Rafaella Silveira
- Embrapa-Agroenergy, Parque Estação Biológica (PqEB), Genetics and Biotechnoloy Laboratory, PqEB s/nº, Brasília D.F. 70770-901, Brazil; (R.S.); (B.F.Q.)
| | - Otavio Henrique Bezerra Pinto
- Cellular Biology Department, University of Brasilia, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília D.F. 70910-900, Brazil; (H.I.P.G.); (O.H.B.P.)
| | - Betania Ferraz Quirino
- Embrapa-Agroenergy, Parque Estação Biológica (PqEB), Genetics and Biotechnoloy Laboratory, PqEB s/nº, Brasília D.F. 70770-901, Brazil; (R.S.); (B.F.Q.)
| | - Cristine Chaves Barreto
- Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Graduate Program, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasilia D.F. 70790-160, Brazil;
| | | | - Ricardo Henrique Krüger
- Cellular Biology Department, University of Brasilia, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília D.F. 70910-900, Brazil; (H.I.P.G.); (O.H.B.P.)
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Wakung’oli M, Amoo AE, Enagbonma BJ, Babalola OO. Termite Societies Promote the Taxonomic and Functional Diversity of Archaeal Communities in Mound Soils. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:biology9060136. [PMID: 32630446 PMCID: PMC7345372 DOI: 10.3390/biology9060136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies involving microbial communities in termite mounds have been more focused on bacteria and fungi with little attention given to archaea, which play significant roles in nutrient cycling. Thus, we aimed at characterizing the archaeal taxonomic and functional diversity in two termite mound soils using the shotgun sequencing method with the assumption that termite activities could promote archaeal diversity. Our findings showed that termite mound soils have archaeal groups that are taxonomically different from their surrounding soils, with Euryarchaeota, Korarchaeota, and Nanoarchaeota being predominant while Thaumarchaeota and Crenarchaeota were predominant in the surrounding soils. Additionally, the observed nutrient pathways: phosphorus, nitrogen, and sulfur were all significantly more predominant in termite mound soils than in their comparative surrounding soils. Alpha diversity showed that archaea were not significantly different within termite mound soils and the surrounding soils. The beta diversity revealed significant differences in the archaeal taxonomic composition and their functional categories between the termite mounds and surrounding soils. Our canonical correspondence analysis revealed that the distribution of archaeal communities was likely dependent on the soil properties. Our results suggested that termite activities may promote the diversity of archaea; with some of our sequences grouped as unclassified archaea, there is a need for further research to unveil their identity.
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Fadiji AE, Babalola OO. Metagenomics methods for the study of plant-associated microbial communities: A review. J Microbiol Methods 2020; 170:105860. [PMID: 32027927 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2020.105860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Plant microbiota have different effects on the plant which can be beneficial or pathogenic. In this study, we concentrated on beneficial microbes associated with plants using endophytic microbes as a case study. Detailed knowledge of the microbial diversity, abundance, composition, functional genes patterns, and metabolic pathways at genome level could assist in understanding the contributions of microbial community towards plant growth and health. Recently, the study of microbial community has improved greatly with the discovery of next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics technologies. Analysis of next generation sequencing data and a proper computational method plays a key role in examining microbial metagenome. This review presents the general metagenomics and computational methods used in processing plant associated metagenomes with concentration on endophytes. This includes 1) introduction of plant-associated microbiota and the factors driving their diversity. 2) plant metagenome focusing on DNA extraction, verification and quality control. 3) metagenomics methods used in community analysis of endophytes focusing on maize plant and, 4) computational methods used in the study of endophytic microbiomes. Limitations and future prospects of metagenomics and computational methods for the analysis of plant-associated metagenome (endophytic metagenome) were also discussed with the aim of fostering its development. We conclude that there is need to adopt advanced genomic features such as k-mers of random size, which do not depend on annotation and can represent other sequence alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayomide Emmanuel Fadiji
- Food Security and Safety Niche, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Mail Bag X2046, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
- Food Security and Safety Niche, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Mail Bag X2046, Mmabatho, South Africa.
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17
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Impact of Land Use on Bacterial Diversity and Community Structure in Temperate Pine and Indigenous Forest Soils. DIVERSITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/d11110217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Soil microbial communities are an important part of ecosystems that possess the capability to improve ecosystem services; however, several aspects of the ecology of forest soil bacterial communities are still unknown. Here, we investigated the impact of land-use change on soil bacterial communities and the soil characteristics. High-throughput sequencing was used to ascertain the bacterial diversity and canonical correspondence analysis was used to determine relationships between the bacterial communities and environmental variables. Our results show spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of the microbial communities and significant relationships between the microbes and soil characteristics (axis 1 of the canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) plot explained 64.55% of the total variance while axis 2 described 24.49%). Knowledge of this is essential as it has direct consequences for the functioning of the soil ecosystem.
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