Microbial cultures optimize rhizosphere bacterial community in Phyllostachys edulis forests

Area of Science:

• Microbial Ecology
• Plant-Microbe Interactions
• Soil Science

Background:

• Phyllostachys edulis (Moso bamboo) forests often exhibit low yields, potentially linked to soil microbial community structure and function.
• Endophytic bacteria and rhizosphere microorganisms play crucial roles in plant health and nutrient cycling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of applying specific endophytic bacterial cultures on the bacterial communities in P. edulis rhizome roots and rhizosphere.
• To assess the effects of these microbial treatments on soil chemical properties and nutrient availability in low-yield Moso bamboo forests.

Main Methods:

• Mixed microbial cultures of four bacterial strains isolated from P. edulis were applied to experimental plots.
• Rhizome root and rhizosphere soil samples were collected from treated and untreated P. edulis at 0, 3, and 6 months.
• Bacterial community composition and diversity were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing; soil chemical properties were also measured.

Main Results:

• Microbial treatment significantly increased bacterial richness (145-229 OTUs) and Firmicutes abundance (1.9-11.1%) in P. edulis rhizome roots and rhizosphere over six months.
• Community composition shifted towards characteristics observed in high-yield forests, although Shannon diversity showed a moderate decline.
• Redundancy analysis (RDA) identified electrical conductivity (EC), available phosphorus (AP), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), available potassium (AK), and available nitrogen (AN) as significant drivers of these shifts.

Conclusions:

• Application of selected endophytic bacterial cultures positively influences the bacterial communities in both rhizome roots and rhizosphere soil of P. edulis.
• This microbial manipulation strategy shows potential for improving soil health and potentially enhancing Moso bamboo productivity in low-yield forests.