Soil microbial diversity impacts plant microbiota more than herbivory

Abstract

Interactions between plants and microbiomes play a key role in ecosystem functioning, and are of broad interest due to their influence on nutrient cycling and plant protection. However, we do not yet have a complete understanding of how plant microbiomes are assembled. Here, for the first time, we show interactions between plant-associated microbial communities that drive their diversity and community composition. We manipulated soil microbial diversity, plant species, and herbivory, and found that soil microbial diversity influenced the herbivore-associated microbiome composition, but also plant species and herbivory influenced the soil microbiome composition. We used a novel approach, quantifying the relative strength of these effects, and demonstrated that the initial soil microbiome diversity explained the most variation in plant- and herbivore-associated microbial communities. Our findings strongly suggest that soil microbial community diversity is a driver of the composition of multiple associated microbiomes (plant and insect), and this has implications for the importance of management of soil microbiomes in multiple systems.

Shoot and root insect herbivory change the plant rhizosphere microbiome and affects cabbage–insect interactions through plant–soil feedback

“…Herbivory by shoot-feeding insects was previously shown to affect the rhizosphere community, in line with our results (Yang et al, 2011;Lee et al, 2012;Bezemer et al, 2013;Kong et al, 2016;Malacrin o et al, 2020;Zytynska et al, 2020). However, some studies report similar rhizosphere microbiomes between shoot-herbivore-infested and noninfested plants (O'Brien et al, 2018;Malacrin o et al, 2020).…”

“…Herbivory by shoot-feeding insects was previously shown to affect the rhizosphere community, in line with our results (Yang et al, 2011;Lee et al, 2012;Bezemer et al, 2013;Kong et al, 2016;Malacrin o et al, 2020;Zytynska et al, 2020). However, some studies report similar rhizosphere microbiomes between shoot-herbivore-infested and noninfested plants (O'Brien et al, 2018;Malacrin o et al, 2020). The variation seen in the literature regarding rhizosphere microbiome responses to shoot herbivory could be explained by factors such as plant-and insect-specific responses, or different bulk soil bacterial communities in the starting soil.…”

Role of rhizosphere niches and fallow periods on shaping bacterial diversity of shifting agriculture crop field reflect the level of stress in soil ecosystems

“…P-values were calculated using the two-sided Fischer's exact test (37), while confidence intervals were calculated using the Newcombe-Wilson method (38), and the correction was made using Bonferroni (39). Comparisons of means were done with General Linear Models in Minitab v. 19.…”

“…Bacterial community composition in soils also varies depending upon the root activity and the type of crop/tree species that are unique in their rhizosphere activity. A recent study showed that initial soil microbiome diversity, explained the most similar in plant and herbivore associated microbial communities (19). Accordingly, bacterial functioning in rhizosphere niches and bulk soil can influence the overall health of crops, soil fertility (20), and nutrient cycling (21).…”