Pathogen resistance in soils associated with bacteriome network reconstruction through reductive soil disinfestation

Area of Science:

• Soil microbiology
• Bioremediation
• Ecosystem ecology

Background:

• Reductive soil disinfestation (RSD) is a bioremediation technique that restructures soil microbial communities and controls soilborne diseases.
• A comprehensive understanding of keystone taxa and their ecological roles in degraded soils treated with RSD is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the bacteriome network structure in RSD-treated soil during the treatment and subsequent cultivation phases.
• To identify keystone microbial taxa and their functions in restored soil ecosystems.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of bacterial community network topology in RSD-treated and control soils.
• Quantification of keystone taxa richness and diversity.
• Correlation analysis between keystone taxa, soil physicochemical properties, and pathogen abundance (Fusarium).

Main Results:

• RSD treatment led to more complex and stable bacterial co-occurrence patterns.
• Keystone taxa richness and diversity were significantly higher in RSD-treated soil.
• Keystone taxa richness was negatively correlated with Fusarium abundance, suggesting pathogen suppression.
• RSD promoted nitrogen fixation, methylotrophy, and methanotrophy functions associated with keystone taxa.

Conclusions:

• RSD enhances soil bacteriome network stability and restores crucial keystone taxa.
• The restoration of keystone taxa is linked to improved soil properties and suppressed pathogen activity.
• Distinct microbial modules with anti-pathogen potential emerge following RSD treatment, contributing to soil health.