Enhancing Biodiversity-Function Relationships in Field Retting: Towards Key Microbial Indicators for Retting Control

Area of Science:

• Microbial Ecology
• Biotechnology
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Hemp retting is crucial for fibre extraction but often yields inconsistent quality due to empirical methods.
• Understanding the microbial and enzymatic processes is key to optimizing this bioprocess.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the biodiversity-function relationship in hemp retting ecosystems.
• To identify microbial and enzymatic indicators for improved process control and consistent fibre quality.

Main Methods:

• Monitoring bacterial and fungal community dynamics via high-throughput sequencing over six weeks of field retting.
• Assessing enzymatic activity profiles, including pectinases, hemicellulases, and cellulases.

Main Results:

• A sequential enzymatic pattern was observed: pectinases early, followed by hemicellulases, then cellulases.
• Microbial communities shifted accordingly, with pectinolytic bacteria initially and cellulolytic fungi later.
• Specific genera like Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas (bacteria), and Cladosporium (fungi) were linked to optimal retting stages and enzymatic profiles.

Conclusions:

• Identified microbial taxa (e.g., Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Cladosporium) and enzymatic activities as potential bioindicators for hemp retting.
• Findings provide insights into retting microbial ecology, enabling monitoring strategies for consistent hemp fibre production.