Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Plant stimulation of soil microbial community succession: how sequential expression mediates soil carbon stabilization and turnover

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1177136· OSTI ID:1177136
 [1]
  1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States); University of California Berkeley
It is now understood that most plant C is utilized or transformed by soil microorganisms en route to stabilization. Hence the composition of microbial communities that mediate decomposition and transformation of root C is critical, as are the metabolic capabilities of these communities. The change in composition and function of the C-transforming microbial communities over time in effect defines the biological component of soil C stabilization. Our research was designed to test 2 general hypotheses; the first two hypotheses are discussed first; H1: Root-exudate interactions with soil microbial populations results in the expression of enzymatic capacities for macromolecular, complex carbon decomposition; and H2: Microbial communities surrounding roots undergo taxonomic succession linked to functional gene activities as roots grow, mature, and decompose in soil. Over the term of the project we made significant progress in 1) quantifying the temporal pattern of root interactions with the soil decomposing community and 2) characterizing the role of root exudates in mediating these interactions.
Research Organization:
Regents of the University of Callifornia, Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
DOE Contract Number:
SC0004730
OSTI ID:
1177136
Report Number(s):
DOE-UCB--04730
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Prevalent root-derived phenolics drive shifts in microbial community composition and prime decomposition in forest soil
Journal Article · Thu Apr 02 20:00:00 EDT 2020 · Soil Biology and Biochemistry · OSTI ID:1863907

Plant roots stimulate the decomposition of complex, but not simple, soil carbon
Journal Article · Wed Dec 11 19:00:00 EST 2019 · Functional Ecology · OSTI ID:1609047

Rhizosphere Carbon Turnover from Cradle to Grave: The Role of Microbe–Plant Interactions
Other · Sat Aug 22 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Rhizosphere Biology: Interactions Between Microbes and Plants Rhizosphere Biology · OSTI ID:1779100