Using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), we analyzed the proteome of Sinorhizobium medicae WSM419 growing as free-living cells and in symbiosis with Medicago truncatula. 3215 proteins were identified, over half of the ORFs predicted from the genomic sequence. The abundance of 1361 proteins displayed strong lifestyle bias. 1131 proteins had similar levels in bacteroids and free-living cells, and the low levels of 723 proteins prevented statistically significant assignments. Nitrogenase subunits comprised ~12% of quantified bacteroid proteins. Other major bacteroid proteins included symbiosis-specific cytochromes and FixABCX, which transfer electrons to nitrogenase. Bacteroids had normal levels of proteins involved in amino acid biosynthesis, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and the pentose phosphate pathway, but several amino acid degradation pathways were repressed. This suggests bacteroids maintain a relatively independent anabolic metabolism. TCA cycle proteins were highly expressed in bacteroids and no other catabolic pathway emerged as an obvious candidate to supply energy and reductant to nitrogen fixation. Bacterial stress response proteins were induced in bacteroids. Many WSM419 proteins that are not encoded in Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm1021 were detected and understanding the functions of these proteins might clarify why S. medicae WSM419 forms a more effective symbiosis with M. truncatula than S. meliloti Rm1021.
The application of bacterial inoculums for improving plant growth and production is an important component of sustainable agriculture. However, the efficiency of perennial crop inoculums depends on the ability of the introduced endophytes to exert an impact on the host-plant over an extended period of time. This impact might be evaluated by the response of plant-associated microbiome to the inoculation. In this study, we monitored the effect of a single bacterial strain inoculation on the diversity, structure, and cooperation in plant-associated microbiome over 1-year period. An endophyte (RF67) isolated from Vaccinium angustifolium (wild blueberry) roots and annotated as Rhizobium was used for the inoculation of 1-year-old Lonicera caerulea (Haskap) plants. A significant level of bacterial community perturbation was detected in plant roots after 3 months post-inoculation. About 23% of root-associated community variation was correlated with an application of the inoculant, which was accompanied by increased cooperation between taxa belonging to Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota phyla and decreased cooperation between Firmicutes in plant roots. Additionally, a decrease in bacterial Shannon diversity and an increase in the relative abundances of Rhizobiaceae and Enterobacteriaceae were detected in the roots of inoculated plants relative to the non-inoculated control. A strong effect of the inoculation on the bacterial cooperation was also detected after 1 year of plant field growth, whereas no differences in bacterial community composition and also alpha and beta diversities were detected between bacterial communities from inoculated and non-inoculated roots. These findings suggest that while exogenous endophytes might have a short-term effect on the root microbiome structure and composition, they can boost cooperation between plant-growth-promoting endophytes, which can exist for the extended period of time providing the host-plant with long-lasting beneficial effects.
The tree fruit industry in Nova Scotia, Canada, is dominated by the apple (Malus domestica) sector. However, the sector is faced with numerous challenges, including apple replant disease (ARD), which is a well-known problem in areas with intensive apple cultivation. A study was performed using 16S rRNA/18S rRNA and 16S rRNA/ITS2 amplicon sequencing to assess soil- and root-associated microbiomes, respectively, from mature apple orchards and soil microbiomes alone from uncultivated soil. The results indicated significant (p < 0.05) differences in soil microbial community structure and composition between uncultivated soil and cultivated apple orchard soil. We identified an increase in the number of potential pathogens in the orchard soil compared to uncultivated soil. At the same time, we detected a significant (p < 0.05) increase in relative abundances of several potential plant-growth-promoting or biocontrol microorganisms and non-fungal eukaryotes capable of promoting the proliferation of bacterial biocontrol agents in orchard soils. Additionally, the apple roots accumulated several potential PGP bacteria from Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla, while the relative abundances of fungal taxa with the potential to contribute to ARD, such as Nectriaceae and plant pathogenic Fusarium spp., were decreased in the apple root microbiome compared to the soil microbiome. The results suggest that the health of a mature apple tree can be ascribed to a complex interaction between potential pathogenic and plant growth-promoting microorganisms in the soil and on apple roots.
Aloe vera is being identified as a potential medicinal plant for its application in industries as well as traditional usage. The gel obtained from the leaves of A. vera has numerous properties. In this study, using the gel to extend the shelf life of Ampalavi mango fruits was studied. Even sized, uniform coloured, matured Ampalavi cultivar mango fruits were surface cleaned and coated with 33%, 66% and 100% gel, respectively. Results revealed that the ripening was delayed due to the coating. The total soluble solid (TSS), pH and weight loss were high in uncoated fruits. The mean pH of the pulp from fruits kept as control was 4.94 at 4 d fruit preservation period (FPP) and was slightly increased to 5.43 within 12 d FPP, whereas the minimal pH (4.69 at 4 d FPP and 5.03 at 9 d FPP) was noticed in 100% gel coated fruits. The TSS (brix) was significantly in higher levels (13.67 °Bx within 4 d FPP and 20.77 °Bx within 12 d FPP) in control fruits, whereas the minimum TSS value was 9.27 °Bx and 18.03 °Bx within 4 d and 12 d FPP, respectively, recorded from the 100% gel coated fruits in storage. The weight loss percentage (WLP) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in control fruits (8.46%), whereas the lower WLP (1.13%) was found in 100% gel coated fruits after 12 d of storage. This low-scale gel coating technique prolonged the fruits shelf life by delaying the fruit ripening. This effect has to be further investigated to commercialize the natural product for large scale ready-made application.
The benefit sof municipal solid waste (MSW) compost on soil health and plant productivity are well known, but not its long-term effect on soil microbial and plant metabolic pathways. A 5-year study with annual (AN), biennial (BI) and no (C, control) MSW compost application were carried out to determine the effect on soil properties, microbiome function, and plantgrowth and TCA cycle metabolites profile of green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), lettuce (Latuca sativa) and beets (Beta vulgaris). MSW compost increased soil nutrients and organic matter leading to a significant (p < 0.05) increase in AN-soil water-holding capacity followed by BI-soil compared to C-soil. Estimated nitrogen release in the AN-soil was ca. 23% and 146% more than in BI-soil and C-soil, respectively. Approximately 44% of bacterial community due to compost. Deltaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes Bacteroidia, and Chloroflexi Anaerolineae were overrepresented in compost amended soils compared to C-soil. A strong positive association existed between AN-soil and 18 microbial metabolic pathways out of 205. Crop yield in AN-soil were increased by 6–20% compared to the BI-soil, and by 35–717% compared to the C-soil. Plant tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites were highly (p < 0.001) influenced by compost. Overall, microbiome function and TCA cycle metabolites and crop yield were increased in the AN-soil followed by the BI-soil and markedly less in C-soil. Therefore, MSW compost is a possible solution to increase soil health and plants production in the medium to long term. Future study must investigate rhizosphere metabolic activities.
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