Ecological co-occurrence and soil physicochemical factors drive the archaeal community in Amazonian soils.

We evaluated the co-occurrence of archaeal taxonomic groups and soil physicochemical characteristics in relation to the structuring of the archaeal community in Amazonian soil under different land use systems. Soil samples were collected in primary forest (PF), secondary forest (SF), agricultural systems (AG) and cattle pastures (PA). Archaeal community composition was revealed based on high-throughput amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The results revealed co-occurrence of archaeal classes, with two groups formed: Thaumarchaeota classes, including South Africa Gold Mine-Group 1 (SAGMG-1), Crenarchaeotic group (SCG) and Crenarchaeota candidate division YNPFFA, with predominance in PF and SF; and Bathyarchaeota_unclassified, Methanomicrobia and Methanobacteria (Euryarchaeota) with the FHMa11 terrestrial group, with predominance in PA. The number of co-occurrences between groups was lower in SF, AG and PA (approximately 30%) than in PF. The qPCR analysis revealed that PF also had the largest number of archaeal representatives. Soil texture may be a limiting factor of interactions between groups since the most representative groups, SAGMG-1 and the SCG (over 20% in all sites), were positively associated with coarse sand, the soil factor most correlated with the groups (33% of the total). These results suggest that interactions between archaeal classes belonging to different phyla may be dependent on the number of individuals in the soil environment. In this context, differences in soil physical structure among the land use systems can reduce the representatives of key groups and consequently the co-occurrence of Archaea, which could compromise the natural dynamics of this complex environment.

Resistance Breeding of Common Bean Shapes the Physiology of the Rhizosphere Microbiome.

The taxonomically diverse rhizosphere microbiome contributes to plant nutrition, growth and health, including protection against soil-borne pathogens. We previously showed that breeding for Fusarium-resistance in common bean changed the rhizosphere microbiome composition and functioning. Here, we assessed the impact of Fusarium-resistance breeding in common bean on microbiome physiology. Combined with metatranscriptome data, community-level physiological profiling by Biolog EcoPlate analyses revealed that the rhizosphere microbiome of the Fusarium-resistant accession was distinctly different from that of the Fusarium-susceptible accession, with higher consumption of amino acids and amines, higher metabolism of xylanase and sialidase, and higher expression of genes associated with nitrogen, phosphorus and iron metabolism. The resistome analysis indicates higher expression of soxR, which is involved in protecting bacteria against oxidative stress induced by a pathogen invasion. These results further support our hypothesis that breeding for resistance has unintentionally shaped the assembly and activity of the rhizobacterial community toward a higher abundance of specific rhizosphere competent bacterial taxa that can provide complementary protection against fungal root infections.

Acidobacteria Subgroups and Their Metabolic Potential for Carbon Degradation in Sugarcane Soil Amended With Vinasse and Nitrogen Fertilizers.

Acidobacteria is a predominant bacterial phylum in tropical agricultural soils, including sugarcane cultivated soils. The increased need for fertilizers due to the expansion of sugarcane production is a threat to the ability of the soil to maintain its potential for self-regulation in the long term, in witch carbon degradation has essential role. In this study, a culture-independent approach based on high-throughput DNA sequencing and microarray technology was used to perform taxonomic and functional profiling of the Acidobacteria community in a tropical soil under sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) that was supplemented with nitrogen (N) combined with vinasse. These analyses were conducted to identify the subgroup-level responses to chemical changes and the carbon (C) degradation potential of the different Acidobacteria subgroups. Eighteen Acidobacteria subgroups from a total of 26 phylogenetically distinct subgroups were detected based on high-throughput DNA sequencing, and 16 gene families associated with C degradation were quantified using Acidobacteria-derived DNA microarray probes. The subgroups Gp13 and Gp18 presented the most positive correlations with the gene families associated with C degradation, especially those involved in hemicellulose degradation. However, both subgroups presented low abundance in the treatment containing vinasse. In turn, the Gp4 subgroup was the most abundant in the treatment that received vinasse, but did not present positive correlations with the gene families for C degradation analyzed in this study. The metabolic potential for C degradation of the different Acidobacteria subgroups in sugarcane soil amended with N and vinasse can be driven in part through the increase in soil nutrient availability, especially calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), aluminum (Al), boron (B) and zinc (Zn). This soil management practice reduces the abundance of Acidobacteria subgroups, including those potentially involved with C degradation in this agricultural soil.