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Trinchera A, Migliore M, Warren Raffa D, Ommeslag S, Debode J, Shanmugam S, Dane S, Babry J, Kivijarvi P, Kristensen HL, Lepse L, Salo T, Campanelli G, Willekens K. Can multi-cropping affect soil microbial stoichiometry and functional diversity, decreasing potential soil-borne pathogens? A study on European organic vegetable cropping systems. Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:952910. [PMID: 36237499 PMCID: PMC9552534 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.952910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Crop diversification in spatial and temporal patterns can optimize the synchronization of nutrients plant demand and availability in soils, as plant diversity and soil microbial communities are the main drivers of biogeochemical C and nutrient cycling. The introduction of multi-cropping in organic vegetable production can represent a key strategy to ensure efficient complementation mediated by soil microbiota, including beneficial mycorrhizal fungi. This study shows the effect of the introduction of multi-cropping in five European organic vegetable systems (South-West: Italy; North-West: Denmark and Belgium; North-East: Finland and Latvia) on: (i) soil physicochemical parameters; (ii) soil microbial biomass stoichiometry; (iii) crop root mycorrhization; (iv) bacterial and fungal diversity and composition in crop rhizosphere; (v) relative abundance of selected fungal pathogens species. In each site, three cropping systems were considered: (1) crop 1-monocropping; (2) crop 2-monocropping; (3) crop 1-crop 2-intercropping or strip cropping. Results showed that, just before harvest, multi-cropping can increase soil microbial biomass amount and shape microbial community toward a predominance of some bacteria or fungi phyla, in the function of soil nutrient availability. We mainly observed a selection effect of crop type on rhizosphere microbiota. Particularly, Bacteroidetes and Mortierellomycota relative abundances in rhizosphere soil resulted in suitable ecological indicators of the positive effect of plant diversity in field, the first ones attesting an improved C and P cycles in soil and the second ones a reduced soil pathogens' pressure. Plant diversity also increased the root mycorrhizal colonization between the intercropped crops that, when properly selected, can also reduce the relative abundance of potential soil-borne pathogens, with a positive effect on crop productivity in long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Trinchera
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics-Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Rome, Italy
| | - Melania Migliore
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics-Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Rome, Italy
| | - Dylan Warren Raffa
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics-Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Rome, Italy
| | - Sarah Ommeslag
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Jane Debode
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium
| | | | - Sandra Dane
- Latvian Institute of Horticulture, LatHort, Dobeles Novads, Latvia
| | | | - Pirjo Kivijarvi
- LUKE (FI) Natural Resources Institute Finland, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Liga Lepse
- Latvian Institute of Horticulture, LatHort, Dobeles Novads, Latvia
| | - Tapio Salo
- LUKE (FI) Natural Resources Institute Finland, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gabriele Campanelli
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics-Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Monsampolo del Tronto, Italy
| | - Koen Willekens
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium
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Pot S, Tender CD, Ommeslag S, Delcour I, Ceusters J, Vandecasteele B, Debode J, Vancampenhout K. Elucidating the microbiome of the sustainable peat replacers composts and nature management residues. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:983855. [PMID: 36246232 PMCID: PMC9555241 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.983855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sustainable peat alternatives, such as composts and management residues, are considered to have beneficial microbiological characteristics compared to peat-based substrates. Studies comparing microbiological characteristics of these three types of biomass are, however, lacking. This study examined if and how microbiological characteristics of subtypes of composts and management residues differ from peat-based substrates, and how feedstock and (bio)chemical characteristics drive these characteristics. In addition, microbiome characteristics were evaluated that may contribute to plant growth and health. These characteristics include: genera associated with known beneficial or harmful microorganisms, microbial diversity, functional diversity/activity, microbial biomass, fungal to bacterial ratio and inoculation efficiency with the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma harzianum. Bacterial and fungal communities were studied using 16S rRNA and ITS2 gene metabarcoding, community-level physiological profiling (Biolog EcoPlates) and PLFA analysis. Inoculation with T. harzianum was assessed using qPCR. Samples of feedstock-based subtypes of composts and peat-based substrates showed similar microbial community compositions, while subtypes based on management residues were more variable in their microbial community composition. For management residues, a classification based on pH and hemicellulose content may be relevant for bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. Green composts, vegetable, fruit and garden composts and woody composts show the most potential to enhance plant growth or to suppress pathogens for non-acidophilic plants, while grass clippings, chopped heath and woody fractions of compost show the most potential for blends for calcifuge plants. Fungal biomass was a suitable predictor for inoculation efficiency of composts and management residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffi Pot
- Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Geel, Belgium
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Steffi Pot,
| | - Caroline De Tender
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Sarah Ommeslag
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Ilse Delcour
- PCS Ornamental Plant Research, Destelbergen, Belgium
| | - Johan Ceusters
- Division of Crop Biotechnics, Department of Biosystems, Research Group for Sustainable Crop Production & Protection, KU Leuven, Geel, Belgium
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Environmental Biology, UHasselt, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Bart Vandecasteele
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Jane Debode
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Karen Vancampenhout
- Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Geel, Belgium
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De Tender C, Vandecasteele B, Verstraeten B, Ommeslag S, Kyndt T, Debode J. Biochar-Enhanced Resistance to Botrytis cinerea in Strawberry Fruits (But Not Leaves) Is Associated With Changes in the Rhizosphere Microbiome. Front Plant Sci 2021; 12:700479. [PMID: 34497619 PMCID: PMC8419269 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.700479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Biochar has been reported to play a positive role in disease suppression against airborne pathogens in plants. The mechanisms behind this positive trait are not well-understood. In this study, we hypothesized that the attraction of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) or fungi (PGPF) underlies the mechanism of biochar in plant protection. The attraction of PGPR and PGPF may either activate the innate immune system of plants or help the plants with nutrient uptake. We studied the effect of biochar in peat substrate (PS) on the susceptibility of strawberry, both on leaves and fruits, against the airborne fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea. Biochar had a positive impact on the resistance of strawberry fruits but not the plant leaves. On leaves, the infection was more severe compared with plants without biochar in the PS. The different effects on fruits and plant leaves may indicate a trade-off between plant parts. Future studies should focus on monitoring gene expression and metabolites of strawberry fruits to investigate this potential trade-off effect. A change in the microbial community in the rhizosphere was also observed, with increased fungal diversity and higher abundances of amplicon sequence variants classified into Granulicella, Mucilaginibacter, and Byssochlamys surrounding the plant root, where the latter two were reported as biocontrol agents. The change in the microbial community was not correlated with a change in nutrient uptake by the plant in either the leaves or the fruits. A decrease in the defense gene expression in the leaves was observed. In conclusion, the decreased infection of B. cinerea in strawberry fruits mediated by the addition of biochar in the PS is most likely regulated by the changes in the microbial community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline De Tender
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart Vandecasteele
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Bruno Verstraeten
- Epigenetics and Defence Research Group, Department Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah Ommeslag
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Tina Kyndt
- Epigenetics and Defence Research Group, Department Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jane Debode
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium
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Vanhoutte I, De Tender C, Demeyere K, Abdallah MF, Ommeslag S, Vermeir P, Saeger SD, Debode J, Meyer E, Croubels S, Audenaert K, De Gelder L. Bacterial Enrichment Cultures Biotransform the Mycotoxin Deoxynivalenol into a Novel Metabolite Toxic to Plant and Porcine Cells. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13080552. [PMID: 34437423 PMCID: PMC8402469 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13080552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON), produced in wheat, barley and maize by Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum, is threatening the health of humans and animals. With its worldwide high incidence in food and feed, mitigation strategies are needed to detoxify DON, maintaining the nutritional value and palatability of decontaminated commodities. A promising technique is biological degradation, where microorganisms are used to biotransform mycotoxins into less toxic metabolites. In this study, bacterial enrichment cultures were screened for their DON detoxification potential, where DON and its potential derivatives were monitored. The residual phytotoxicity was determined through a bioassay using the aquatic plant Lemna minor L. Two bacterial enrichment cultures were found to biotransform DON into a still highly toxic metabolite for plants. Furthermore, a cytotoxic effect was observed on the cellular viability of intestinal porcine epithelial cells. Through liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis, an unknown compound was detected, and tentatively characterized with a molecular weight of 30.0 Da (i.e., CH2O) higher than DON. Metabarcoding of the subsequently enriched bacterial communities revealed a shift towards the genera Sphingopyxis, Pseudoxanthomonas, Ochrobactrum and Pseudarthrobacter. This work describes the discovery of a novel bacterial DON-derived metabolite, toxic to plant and porcine cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilse Vanhoutte
- Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Department of Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;
| | - Caroline De Tender
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (C.D.T.); (S.O.); (J.D.)
- Computer Science and Statistics, Department of Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kristel Demeyere
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (K.D.); (E.M.); (S.C.)
| | - Mohamed F. Abdallah
- Centre of Excellence in Mycotoxicology and Public Health, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (M.F.A.); (S.D.S.)
| | - Sarah Ommeslag
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (C.D.T.); (S.O.); (J.D.)
| | - Pieter Vermeir
- Laboratory of Chemical Analysis (LCA), Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;
| | - Sarah De Saeger
- Centre of Excellence in Mycotoxicology and Public Health, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (M.F.A.); (S.D.S.)
| | - Jane Debode
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (C.D.T.); (S.O.); (J.D.)
| | - Evelyne Meyer
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (K.D.); (E.M.); (S.C.)
| | - Siska Croubels
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (K.D.); (E.M.); (S.C.)
| | - Kris Audenaert
- Laboratory of Applied Mycology and Phenomics, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;
| | - Leen De Gelder
- Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Department of Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-9-243-24-75
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De Zutter N, Ameye M, Debode J, De Tender C, Ommeslag S, Verwaeren J, Vermeir P, Audenaert K, De Gelder L. Shifts in the rhizobiome during consecutive in planta enrichment for phosphate-solubilizing bacteria differentially affect maize P status. Microb Biotechnol 2021; 14:1594-1612. [PMID: 34021699 PMCID: PMC8313256 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is despite its omnipresence in soils often unavailable for plants. Rhizobacteria able to solubilize P are therefore crucial to avoid P deficiency. Selection for phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) is frequently done in vitro; however, rhizosphere competence is herein overlooked. Therefore, we developed an in planta enrichment concept enabling simultaneous microbial selection for P-solubilization and rhizosphere competence. We used an ecologically relevant combination of iron- and aluminium phosphate to select for PSB in maize (Zea mays L.). In each consecutive enrichment, plant roots were inoculated with rhizobacterial suspensions from plants that had grown in substrate with insoluble P. To assess the plants' P statuses, non-destructive multispectral imaging was used for quantifying anthocyanins, a proxy for maize's P status. After the third consecutive enrichment, plants supplied with insoluble P and inoculated with rhizobacterial suspensions showed a P status similar to plants supplied with soluble P. A parallel metabarcoding approach uncovered that the improved P status in the third enrichment coincided with a shift in the rhizobiome towards bacteria with plant growth-promoting and P-solubilizing capacities. Finally, further consecutive enrichment led to a functional relapse hallmarked by plants with a low P status and a second shift in the rhizobiome at the level of Azospirillaceae and Rhizobiaceae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noémie De Zutter
- Laboratory of Applied Mycology and Phenomics (LAMP)Department of Plants and CropsFaculty of Bioscience EngineeringGhent UniversityValentin Vaerwyckweg 1GhentB‐9000Belgium
- Laboratory of Environmental BiotechnologyDepartment of BiotechnologyFaculty of Bioscience EngineeringGhent UniversityValentin Vaerwyckweg 1GhentB‐9000Belgium
| | - Maarten Ameye
- Laboratory of Applied Mycology and Phenomics (LAMP)Department of Plants and CropsFaculty of Bioscience EngineeringGhent UniversityValentin Vaerwyckweg 1GhentB‐9000Belgium
| | - Jane Debode
- Plant Sciences UnitFlanders Research Institute for AgricultureFisheries and Food (ILVO)Burgemeester Van Gansberghelaan 96MerelbekeB‐9820Belgium
| | - Caroline De Tender
- Plant Sciences UnitFlanders Research Institute for AgricultureFisheries and Food (ILVO)Burgemeester Van Gansberghelaan 96MerelbekeB‐9820Belgium
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and StatisticsGhent UniversityKrijgslaan 281 S9GhentB‐9000Belgium
| | - Sarah Ommeslag
- Plant Sciences UnitFlanders Research Institute for AgricultureFisheries and Food (ILVO)Burgemeester Van Gansberghelaan 96MerelbekeB‐9820Belgium
| | - Jan Verwaeren
- Research Unit Knowledge‐based Systems (KERMIT)Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical ModelingGhent UniversityCoupure links 653GhentB‐9000Belgium
| | - Pieter Vermeir
- Laboratory of Chemical Analysis (LCA)Faculty of Bioscience EngineeringGhent UniversityValentin Vaerwyckweg 1GhentB‐9000Belgium
| | - Kris Audenaert
- Laboratory of Applied Mycology and Phenomics (LAMP)Department of Plants and CropsFaculty of Bioscience EngineeringGhent UniversityValentin Vaerwyckweg 1GhentB‐9000Belgium
| | - Leen De Gelder
- Laboratory of Environmental BiotechnologyDepartment of BiotechnologyFaculty of Bioscience EngineeringGhent UniversityValentin Vaerwyckweg 1GhentB‐9000Belgium
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Vandecasteele B, Amery F, Ommeslag S, Vanhoutte K, Visser R, Robbens J, De Tender C, Debode J. Chemically versus thermally processed brown shrimp shells or Chinese mitten crab as a source of chitin, nutrients or salts and as microbial stimulant in soilless strawberry cultivation. Sci Total Environ 2021; 771:145263. [PMID: 33545468 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Brown shrimp (Crangon crangon) shells and Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) were chemically demineralized and deproteinized (denoted as M1 to M4 for the shrimp shells and M5 to M7 for the Chinese mitten crab), and shrimp shells were torrefied at 200 to 300 °C (denoted as R200, R255, R300), and were compared with a commercially available chitin source (denoted as reference chitin). Based on their chemical characteristics, a selection of chitin sources was tested for their N mineralization capacity. The N release was high for the chemically treated shrimp shells and Chinese mitten crab, but not for the torrefied shrimp shells with or without acid treatment, indicating that treatment at 200 °C or higher resulted in low N availability. Interaction with nutrients was tested in a leaching experiment with limed peat for three thermally and two chemically processed shrimp shells and the reference chitin source. The K concentrations in the leachate for the chemically treated shrimp shells and the reference chitin were lower than for limed peat during fertigation. Irreversible K retention was observed for one source of chemically treated shrimp shells, and the reference chitin. The thermally treated shrimp shells had a significantly higher net release of P, Na and Cl than the treatment without chitin source. Three shrimp shell based materials (M4, R200 and R300) and the reference chitin were tested in a greenhouse trial with strawberry at a dose of 2 g/L limed peat. A very positive and significant effect on Botrytis cinerea disease suppression in the leaves was found for the reference chitin, M4 and R200 compared to the unamended control. The disease suppression of the 3 chitin sources was linked with an increase of the microbial biomass in the limed peat with 24% to 28% due to chitin decomposition and a 9-44% higher N uptake in the plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart Vandecasteele
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Plant Sciences Unit, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 109, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - Fien Amery
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Plant Sciences Unit, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 109, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Sarah Ommeslag
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Plant Sciences Unit, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 109, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Kaitlyn Vanhoutte
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Animal Sciences Unit, Ankerstraat 1, 8400, Oostende, Belgium
| | - Rian Visser
- ECN part of TNO, Westerduinweg 3, 1755 ZG, Petten, the Netherlands
| | - Johan Robbens
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Animal Sciences Unit, Ankerstraat 1, 8400, Oostende, Belgium
| | - Caroline De Tender
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Plant Sciences Unit, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 109, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium; Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S9, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jane Debode
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Plant Sciences Unit, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 109, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Pot S, De Tender C, Ommeslag S, Delcour I, Ceusters J, Gorrens E, Debode J, Vandecasteele B, Vancampenhout K. Understanding the Shift in the Microbiome of Composts That Are Optimized for a Better Fit-for-Purpose in Growing Media. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:643679. [PMID: 33897654 PMCID: PMC8059793 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.643679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Three characteristics are considered key for optimal use of composts in growing media: maturity, pH and organic matter content. Maturation is a critical step in the processing of composts contributing to compost quality. Blending of composts with chopped heath biomass, sieving out the larger fraction of composts and acidification of composts by adding elemental sulfur may be used either to increase organic matter content or to reduce pH for a better fit in growing media. While several studies have shown the effectiveness of these treatments to improve the use of composts in growing media, the effect of these treatments on the compost microbiome has merely been assessed before. In the present study, five immature composts were allowed to mature, and were subsequently acidified, blended or sieved. Bacterial and fungal communities of the composts were characterized and quantified using 16S rRNA and ITS2 gene metabarcoding and phospholipid fatty acid analysis. Metabolic biodiversity and activity were analyzed using Biolog EcoPlates. Compost batch was shown to be more important than maturation or optimization treatments to determine the compost microbiome. Compost maturation increased microbial diversity and favored beneficial microorganisms, which may be positive for the use of composts in growing media. Blending of composts increased microbial diversity, metabolic diversity, and metabolic activity, which may have a positive effect in growing media. Blending may be used to modify the microbiome to a certain degree in order to optimize microbiological characteristics. Acidification caused a decrease in bacterial diversity and microbial activity, which may be negative for the use in growing media, although the changes are limited. Sieving had limited effect on the microbiome of composts. Because of the limited effect on the microbiome, sieving of composts may be used flexible to improve (bio)chemical characteristics. This is the first study to assess the effects of maturation and optimization treatments to either increase organic matter content or lower pH in composts on the compost microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffi Pot
- Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Geel, Belgium.,Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Plant Sciences Unit, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Caroline De Tender
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Plant Sciences Unit, Merelbeke, Belgium.,Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah Ommeslag
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Plant Sciences Unit, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Ilse Delcour
- PCS Ornamental Plant Research, Destelbergen, Belgium
| | - Johan Ceusters
- Research Group for Sustainable Crop Production & Protection, Division of Crop Biotechnics, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Geel, Belgium.,Centre for Environmental Sciences, Environmental Biology, UHasselt, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Ellen Gorrens
- Lab4Food, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Geel, Belgium
| | - Jane Debode
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Plant Sciences Unit, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Bart Vandecasteele
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Plant Sciences Unit, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Karen Vancampenhout
- Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Geel, Belgium
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De Tender C, Vandecasteele B, Verstraeten B, Ommeslag S, De Meyer T, De Visscher J, Dawyndt P, Clement L, Kyndt T, Debode J. Chitin in Strawberry Cultivation: Foliar Growth and Defense Response Promotion, but Reduced Fruit Yield and Disease Resistance by Nutrient Imbalances. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 2021; 34:227-239. [PMID: 33135964 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-08-20-0223-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Strawberry cultivation is associated with high mineral fertilizer doses and extensive use of chemical plant protection products. Based on previous research, we expected that chitin application to peat substrate would increase the nutrient availability and activate the plant systemic defense response, resulting in higher strawberry yields and fewer disease symptoms. We set up two experiments in which the temporal variability and differences in initial nutrient concentrations of the growing media were taken into account. Chitin treatment resulted in the attraction of plant growth-promoting fungi toward the plant root, such as species from genera Mortierella and Umbelopsis. In addition, by the end of the experiments 87 mg of mineral nitrogen (N) per liter of substrate was mineralized, which can be related to the observed increase in plant shoot biomass. This, however, led to nutrient imbalances in plant shoots and fruit; N concentration in the leaves increased over 30%, exceeding the optimal range, while phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) deficiencies occurred, with concentrations lower than 50% of the optimal range. This may explain the decreased fruit yield and disease resistance of the fruit toward Botrytis cinerea. In contrast, chitin caused a clear defense priming effect in the strawberry leaves, with a strong induction of the jasmonic acid response, resulting in fewer foliar disease symptoms. Chitin causes positive effects on shoot growth and foliar disease resistance, but caution needs to be taken for nutrient imbalances leading to negative influences on root growth, fruit production, and disease susceptibility toward B. cinerea.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- C De Tender
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Burgemeester Van Gansberghelaan 92, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S9, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - B Vandecasteele
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Burgemeester Van Gansberghelaan 92, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - B Verstraeten
- Epigenetics & Defence Research Group, Department Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - S Ommeslag
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Burgemeester Van Gansberghelaan 92, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - T De Meyer
- Department of Data Analysis & Mathematical Modelling, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Bioinformatics Institute Ghent From Nucleotides to Networks, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - J De Visscher
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Burgemeester Van Gansberghelaan 92, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
- Epigenetics & Defence Research Group, Department Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - P Dawyndt
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S9, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - L Clement
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S9, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Bioinformatics Institute Ghent From Nucleotides to Networks, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - T Kyndt
- Epigenetics & Defence Research Group, Department Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - J Debode
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Burgemeester Van Gansberghelaan 92, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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