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Plant–soil–microbe interactions play a central role in plant nutrient acquisition and thus ecosystem functioning and nutrient availability in agroecosystems. Adjustments in root morphology, root exudation and associations with micro‐organisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are common for phosphorus acquisition. Yet how plant below‐ground functional traits interact with microbial communities for P acquisition remains largely unknown, limiting our understanding of phosphorus availability in agroecosystems.
Interactions between below‐ground functional traits and rhizosheath soil microbial communities for P acquisition were investigated across eight herbaceous species with contrasting root traits. Root morphological and physiological traits involved in P acquisition were quantified simultaneously with PLFA (phospholipid fatty acid) and NLFA (neutral lipid fatty acid) microbial bioindicators.
Multiple correlations were observed between root morphology, root exudates and rhizosheath fungal and bacterial communities. Root exudates and in particular release of malate and malonate were strongly linked with indicators of Gram‐negative bacteria, which were correlated with changes in rhizosheath soil P concentration and plant P content.
Our results suggest that root exudation of carboxylates may play an important role in plant–soil–microbe interactions for P acquisition, underlining their likely role in shaping microbial communities. Incorporating these interactions in biogeochemical models would lead to better predicting power and understanding of P cycling and ecosystem functioning.
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Repeated application of organic fertilizer has unintentionally let to the introduction into surface water and soils of many phytotoxic substances that compromise agricultural production and threaten environmental quality. Recent studies using hydroponic systems have reported that bisphenol A (BPA) affects essential mineral elements contents and root absorptive function, thereby impacting nutrient content in plant. However, in soils, plants develop specific traits related to nutrient acquisition strategies. In order to ensure optimized supply of nutrients, understanding the response of these traits under BPA stress is thus essential. Here, we therefore, investigated how leaf nutrient contents (P, Ca, K), root morphology, P-mobilizing exudates and rhizospheric microbiota biomass respond to BPA soil contamination using wheat (Triticum aestivum) as plant model. After 7 weeks, root and leaf traits were not markedly affected by the exposure to BPA at low and high concentrations (0.1 and 1000 mg. kg-1 soil). Significant change on average root diameter and aerial biomass were only observed at the highest dose. BPA contamination had no influence on nutrients acquisition traits and root associated microbiota. Specific root length, carboxylates exudation and P, Ca, K concentrations in leafs were similar irrespective of the treatments. In addition, total microbial biomass, bacteria and fungi abundance measured by phospholipid fatty acid analysis did not differ among controls and contaminated soils. In summary, this experiment suggests a limited influence of BPA contaminated soils on traits involved in nutrient acquisition in wheat.
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