Article
Environmental Sciences
Huawei Zang, Xinzhao Tong, Linxi Yuan, Ying Zhang, Ru Zhang, Miao Li, Renbin Zhu
Summary: This study investigates the characteristics of selenium accumulation in Cardamine hupingshanensis at different growth stages, and reveals the correlations between rhizobacteria and endophytes with selenium hyperaccumulation. The results show that leaves exhibit the highest selenium levels and rhizobacterial diversity is positively correlated with soil selenium contents. Low-abundance bacteria are identified to potentially increase the bioavailable selenium levels in the rhizosphere.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Kishan Mahmud, Kendall Lee, Nicholas S. Hill, Anaas Mergoum, Ali Missaoui
Summary: The symbiotic relationship between tall fescue and fungal endophyte leads to significant shifts in soil fungal communities, potentially enhancing tall fescue performance, particularly in terms of plant-available phosphorus.
Article
Agronomy
Fatemeh Hosseini, Mohammad Reza Mosaddeghi
Summary: The study found that inoculating different wheat cultivars with the endophytic fungus Serendipita indica can increase soil organic carbon content, hot-water soluble carbohydrates content, and water repellency index, reduce carbon mineralization rate, thereby increasing aggregate stability indices, and significantly improving soil physical quality, especially in wheat varieties Roshan and Ghods with extensive root distribution and high TPmucilage content.
Article
Soil Science
Anna Maria Fiore-Donno, Zander R. Human, Martina Stursova, Sunil Mundra, Luis Morgado, Havard Kauserud, Petr Baldrian, Michael Bonkowski
Summary: Protists, especially bacterivores, play an essential role in the rhizosphere, and their interactions with bacteria and fungi affect plant productivity and soil nutrient cycles. The study found that the distribution of protists varied across different soil compartments, with the highest diversity in the bulk soil and the lowest in the roots. Different feeding modes of protists resulted in distinct distributions in the soil.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zheng Ma, Hongjie Feng, Chuanzhen Yang, Xiaojie Ma, Peng Li, Zili Feng, Yalin Zhang, Lihong Zhao, Jinglong Zhou, Xiangming Xu, Heqin Zhu, Feng Wei
Summary: This study aimed to assess the effects of fludioxonil and metalaxyl-M: fludioxonil, azoxystrobin, on cotton seed endophytes, rhizosphere soil enzymatic activities, microbiome, and metabolites. The seed coating agents significantly changed the seed endophytic bacterial and fungal communities. The coated seeds inhibited soil catalase activity and decreased bacterial and fungal biomass, but increased rhizosphere bacterial alpha diversity. The seed coating reduced the abundance of beneficial microorganisms but enriched potential pollutant-degrading microorganisms. Furthermore, there were strong links between soil microbial communities, metabolites, and enzymatic activities.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Pengfa Li, Leho Tedersoo, Thomas W. Crowther, Alex J. Dumbrell, Francisco Dini-Andreote, Mohammad Bahram, Lu Kuang, Ting Li, Meng Wu, Yuji Jiang, Lu Luan, Muhammad Saleem, Franciska T. de Vries, Zhongpei Li, Baozhan Wang, Jiandong Jiang
Summary: Exploiting the potential benefits of plant-associated microbes can enhance crop productivity in a sustainable way. However, little is known about the biogeography and community structure of these microbes. This study constructs a database to analyze the global distribution of potential plant-beneficial bacteria (PBB) and shows that PBB diversity peaks in low-latitude regions. The distribution of potential PBB is primarily influenced by environmental filtering, mainly determined by local climate. Projections suggest that fossil-fuel-dependent scenarios could lead to a significant decline in PBB abundance by 2100, posing a potential threat to global food production and agroecosystem services.
Article
Microbiology
Yue Wang, Jin Zhang, Jiabo Sun, Guoqing Li, Qian Wang, Yanxia Zhao, Changjian Ma, Jinlong Han
Summary: This study investigated the effects of underplanting on Siberian Solomonseal and revealed the relationship between microorganisms and secondary metabolites. The results showed that the richness of rhizosphere bacteria and endosphere fungi was significantly higher in the underplanted group compared to the farmland group. Additionally, the interactions between rhizosphere microorganisms and metabolites were stronger in the underplanted groups compared to the farmland group.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Swarnalee Dutta, Chae Sun Na, Yong Hoon Lee
Summary: Bacterial communities associated with the rhizosphere and roots of the long-sepal Donggang pasque-flower (DPF) plant were investigated, revealing differences between wild and cultivated plants. The core bacterial microbiota commonly functioned as endophytes in both wild and cultivated DPF plants, providing benefits through nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and phytohormone production.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Rui Zhong, Chao Xia, Yawen Ju, Xingxu Zhang, Tingyu Duan, Zhibiao Nan, Chunjie Li
Summary: This study found that E. gansusensis endophyte increased root-associated AM fungal diversity under drought conditions, while decreasing diversity under water addition treatment. Aboveground biomass was closely related to the abundance of Funneliformis in the root, and soil nitrogen and phosphorus were positively related to the diversity of the rhizosphere soil AM fungal community.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elena Tamburini, Melinda Mandaresu, Raffaela Lussu, Simona Sergi, Francesco Vitali, Alessandra Carucci, Giovanna Cappai
Summary: This study evaluated the link between bacterial communities and spontaneously growing plants in ecosystems impacted by mining activities. The research found that environmental conditions and the proportion of zinc and cadmium in the mine substrate played a role in structuring rhizosphere bacterial communities. Changes in root endophyte communities were strongly associated with lead levels in roots and substrate properties. The study highlights the importance of multifactorial interactions between substrate, plant, and microbes for understanding phytoremediation in real conditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Kassandra Michelle Real-Sosa, Erasto Hernandez-Calderon, Idolina Flores-Cortez, Eduardo Valencia-Cantero
Summary: The beneficial rhizobacteria produce a volatile organic compound, DMHDA, which acts as a signal between plants and microorganisms, modulating the endophytic microbiome by inducing plant immune responses. Changes in bacterial community profiles were dependent on the dose of DMHDA, with an increase in Actinobacteria and Firmicutes when seedlings were cultured with DMHDA.
Article
Ecology
Mohammad Yaghoubi Khanghahi, Carmine Crecchio, Erik Verbruggen
Summary: The research explores how plant growth-promoting bacterial (PGPB) inoculants and chemical fertilizers affect rhizosphere and root endophytic bacterial communities in durum wheat under environmental stress. Results indicate that endophytic bacterial communities are more sensitive to (bio-) fertilization treatments, particularly influenced by PGPB inoculation, and are associated with improved grain yield and photosynthetic capacity.
Article
Agronomy
Xingshuai Cui, Tongtong Meng, Ning Zhu, Xing Li, Feifan Leng, Yonggang Wang
Summary: This study investigates the dynamic changes and driving factors of the root microbial community of Codonopsis pilosula, a perennial medicinal plant. The composition and structure of the microbial community in the rhizosphere soil and root endophyte of C. pilosula varied with different planting years. Environmental factors significantly influenced microbial diversity, while the growth years had a minimal effect. Soil protease, soil total nitrogen, and microbial biomass carbon were identified as key factors causing changes in the C. pilosula microbiome.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wenli Xing, Xu Gai, Feng Ju, Guangcai Chen
Summary: It is found that woody plants have great potential in remediating heavily contaminated soils by heavy metals, and the root-associated microbiota plays a vital role in phytoremediation. However, the ecological process controlling the assembly and composition of tree root-associated microbial communities under heavy metal stress remains poorly understood.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Jie Liu, Jiyi Gong, Wenpeng Hou, Kamran Malik, Jie Jin, Yinglong Liu, Junhu Su, Chen Cheng, Xin Kong, Han Xiong, Xiaoxin Tang, Ming Tang, Jianfeng Wang, Yin Yi
Summary: This study analyzed the structure of fungal communities in the soil and roots of Rhododendron delavayi at different elevations. The results showed that elevation significantly affected the diversity and structure of fungal communities, possibly through its impact on soil pH and nutrient levels. Fungal communities helped R. delavayi adapt to different elevations.
ARCHIVES OF AGRONOMY AND SOIL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Bram Danneels, Monique Blignaut, Guillaume Marti, Simon Sieber, Peter Vandamme, Marion Meyer, Aurelien Carlier
Summary: The symbiotic relationships between plants of the Rubiaceae and Primulaceae families and Burkholderia bacteria are unique and intimate. This study assembled and analyzed 17 new endophyte genomes, revealing that all endophytes, despite their taxonomic diversity, contained gene clusters linked to the production of specialized metabolites. Acquisition of secondary metabolite gene clusters through horizontal gene transfer is proposed to be a prerequisite for the evolution of a stable association between these endophytes and their hosts.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ajaree Thonglim, Giovanni Bortolami, Sylvain Delzon, Maximilian Larter, Remko Offringa, Joost J. B. Keurentjes, Erik Smets, Salma Balazadeh, Frederic Lens
Summary: The synergy between drought-responsive traits across different organs is crucial in influencing drought resilience at the whole-plant level. This study investigated the response to drought in Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes by analyzing the stems and leaves. The findings reveal that anatomical, ecophysiological, and molecular adaptations across organs are intertwined and determine the drought response strategies.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Margo Olbrecht, Fedoua Echahidi, Denis Pierard, Charlotte Peeters, Peter Vandamme, Ingrid Wybo, Thomas Demuyser
Summary: We conducted in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing of 267 Achromobacter isolates for 16 antibiotics from 2017 to 2022. The highest susceptibility was found for piperacillin-tazobactam (70%) and ceftazidime-avibactam (62%). Between 30% and 49% of strains were susceptible to tigecycline, ceftazidime, and meropenem. We applied species-specific Achromobacter xylosoxidans breakpoints for piperacillin-tazobactam, meropenem, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and EUCAST pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) breakpoints for the others. A. xylosoxidans was the most frequently isolated species, followed by Achromobacter insuavis and Achromobacter ruhlandii.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amanda Hettiarachchi, Margo Cnockaert, Marie Joossens, David Laureys, Jessika De Clippeleer, Nicolas J. Vereecken, Denis Michez, Guy Smagghe, Dirk C. de Graaf, Peter Vandamme
Summary: This study analyzed the cultivable bacterial communities of different compartments in the invasive insect Vespa velutina, as well as the nest samples, using both cultivation and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The bacterial symbionts in Vespa velutina were dominated by Convivina, Fructobacillus, Lactiplantibacillus, Lactococcus, Sphingomonas, and Spiroplasma. Lactococcus lactis and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum were generalist core lactic acid bacteria (LAB) symbionts, while Convivina species and Fructobacillus fructosus were highly specialized core LAB symbionts with reduced genome sizes. Sphingomonas and Spiroplasma were non-LAB core symbionts, but they were not isolated. Convivina bacteria were particularly enriched in the hornet crop and included Convivina intestini, a species adapted to amino acid metabolism, and Convivina praedatoris sp. nov., which was adapted to carbohydrate metabolism.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tina Tuerlings, Amanda Hettiarachchi, Marie Joossens, Benoit Geslin, Nicolas J. J. Vereecken, Denis Michez, Guy Smagghe, Peter Vandamme
Summary: The study characterized the gut microbiota of invasive bee Megachile sculpturalis from native and invaded regions. The microbiota communities in bees from invaded regions were similar and different from those in Japan. Core amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) represented micro-organisms commonly present in bee-associated niches. The absence of known bee pathogens and presence of microparasite infections suggest a potential role of pathogen pressure and natural enemies in the invasion success of M. sculpturalis.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Louise Vermote, Jonas De Roos, Margo Cnockaert, Peter Vandamme, Stefan Weckx, Luc De Vuyst
Summary: Belgian lambic beers are produced using traditional craftsmanship, relying on wooden barrels for spontaneous fermentation and maturation. These barrels play a crucial role in establishing a stable microbial ecosystem, minimizing batch-to-batch variations, and preventing flavor deviations. They provide an inoculation source of necessary microorganisms and a microaerobic environment for successful lambic beer production.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Juan Guzman, Miyoung Won, Anja Poehlein, Atena Sadat Sombolestani, Daniela Mayorga-Ch, David Laureys, Jessika De Clippeleer, Peter Kaempfer, Rolf Daniel, Andreas Vilcinskas, Peter Vandamme, Soon- Wo Kwon
Summary: In this study, two strains of bacteria were isolated from wasps in Germany and Korea. Molecular and phenotypic analysis showed that these strains are closely related to known species but also have distinct characteristics. Therefore, it is proposed to name these strains Aristophania vespae.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maurizio Mascarello, Olivier Lachenaud, Mario Amalfi, Erik Smets, Olivier J. Hardy, Hans Beeckman, Steven B. Janssens
Summary: Illegal logging poses a serious threat to forest ecosystems and biodiversity conservation in tropical Africa. Despite efforts to reduce illegal logging, a significant amount of timber is still harvested and traded illegally. To enforce international regulations, it is crucial to develop analytical tools for traceability and identification of wood and related products. This study focused on using DNA barcoding to identify plant species, specifically 17 valuable African timber species. The researchers characterized the genetic diversity of these species and developed novel species-specific genetic barcodes for identification.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Peter Vandamme, Charlotte Peeters, Amanda Hettiarachchi, Margo Cnockaert, Aurelien Carlier
Summary: Strain LMG 31809 T was isolated from a top soil sample in Belgium and classified as a rare biosphere bacterium that occurs at low abundances in multiple soil and water ecosystems. It represents a new species within a new genus, Govania unica gen. nov., sp. nov, belonging to the class Alphaproteobacteria. The strain is strictly aerobic and uses organic acids and possibly aromatic compounds as growth substrates. Its whole-genome sequence has a size of 3.21 Mbp with a G + C content of 58.99 mol%.
SYSTEMATIC AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Julius Jeiter, Erik Smets
Summary: Comparative morphology has been the primary source of information for systematic studies, but with the molecular revolution, DNA-based classification has become the main approach. However, this paper highlights the importance of morphology in the era of molecular phylogenetics.
Article
Ecology
Amanda Hettiarachchi, Margo Cnockaert, Marie Joossens, Antoine Gekiere, Ivan Meeus, Nicolas J. Vereecken, Denis Michez, Guy Smagghe, Peter Vandamme
Summary: We characterized the microbial communities in different parts of four wild solitary bee species and found that the dominant bacteria were endosymbionts such as Wolbachia and Spiroplasma. Other bacterial and yeast genera were associated with environmental sources. The bacterial communities varied between bee species, gut compartments, and ovaries, suggesting a selective process influenced by floral and host traits. Many of the gut symbionts identified in this study exhibited metabolic versatility.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Richa Kusuma Wati, Barbara Gravendeel, Rob Langelaan, Bertie Joan van Heuven, Jean Claessens, Jacques Kleynen, Erik F. Smets, Anton J. de Winter, Arie van der Meijden
Summary: This study investigated the effect of different types of trichomes on attachment of herbivorous land snails in three orchid species. The results showed that leaf sides covered with a high density of lignin filled epicuticular trichomes made snails detach easier, while the removal of glandular trichomes did not significantly affect the attachment forces. This study highlights the importance of studying micro-ornamentation in combination with performance for understanding the defense mechanisms of orchids against herbivorous snails.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dewi Pramanik, Annette Becker, Clemens Roessner, Oliver Rupp, Diego Bogarin, Oscar Alejandro Perez-Escobar, Anita Dirks-Mulder, Kevin Droppert, Alexander Kocyan, Erik Smets, Barbara Gravendeel
Summary: This study analyzes the evolution and development of fruit dehiscence zones in orchids. Gene expression analysis reveals that orchids have different fruit dehiscence mechanisms compared to Arabidopsis thaliana. Genes involved in carpel, gynoecium, ovule development, and lipid biosynthesis may play a novel role in the formation of dehiscence zone tissues in orchids.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Atena Sadat Sombolestani, Dries Bongaerts, Eliza Depoorter, Ilse Cleenwerck, Anneleen D. Wieme, Scott J. Britton, Stefan Weckx, Luc De Vuyst, Peter Vandamme
Summary: Polyphasic taxonomic and comparative genomic analyses revealed a novel species among acetic acid bacteria, named Brytella acorum gen. nov., sp. nov., represented by lambic beer isolates including strain LMG 32668T and the kombucha isolate LMG 32879. This species has Acidomonas methanolica as its closest phylogenomic neighbor and possesses metabolic characteristics typical of acetic acid bacteria. The absence of glycolysis pathway and the presence of both aerobic respiration and oxidative fermentation for energy metabolism are notable features. Antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors are absent.
SYSTEMATIC AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
