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Title: Genome-Resolved Metagenomics of Nitrogen Transformations in the Switchgrass Rhizosphere Microbiome on Marginal Lands

Journal Article · · Agronomy (Online)
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [2];  [3]
  1. Univ. of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC (United States)
  2. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)
  3. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States); Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) remains the preeminent American perennial (C4) bioenergy crop for cellulosic ethanol, that could help displace over a quarter of the US current petroleum consumption. Intriguingly, there is often little response to nitrogen fertilizer once stands are established. The rhizosphere microbiome plays a critical role in nitrogen cycling and overall plant nutrient uptake. We used high-throughput metagenomic sequencing to characterize the switchgrass rhizosphere microbial community before and after a nitrogen fertilization event for established stands on marginal land. We examined community structure and bulk metabolic potential, and resolved 29 individual bacteria genomes via metagenomic de novo assembly. Community structure and diversity were not significantly different before and after fertilization; however, the bulk metabolic potential of carbohydrate-active enzymes was depleted after fertilization. We resolved 29 metagenomic assembled genomes, including some from the ‘most wanted’ soil taxa such as Verrucomicrobia, Candidate phyla UBA10199, Acidobacteria (rare subgroup 23), Dormibacterota, and the very rare Candidatus Eisenbacteria. The Dormibacterota (formally candidate division AD3) we identified have the potential for autotrophic CO utilization, which may impact carbon partitioning and storage. Our study also suggests that the rhizosphere microbiome may be involved in providing associative nitrogen fixation (ANF) via the novel diazotroph Janthinobacterium to switchgrass.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
FC02-07ER64494; SC0018409; DEB 1637653
OSTI ID:
1972494
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 2418901
Journal Information:
Agronomy (Online), Vol. 13, Issue 5; ISSN 2073-4395
Publisher:
MDPICopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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