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Title: Rhizosphere and detritusphere habitats modulate expression of soil N-cycling genes during plant development

Journal Article · · mSystems
ORCiD logo [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [4]
  1. University of California, Berkeley, CA (United States); École Centrale de Lyon (France)
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  3. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); University of California, Merced, CA (United States); University of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
  4. University of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)

Interactions between plant roots and rhizosphere bacteria modulate nitrogen (N)-cycling processes and create habitats rich in low molecular weight compounds (exudates) and complex organic molecules (decaying root litter) compared to those of bulk soil. Microbial N-cycling is regulated by edaphic conditions and genes from many interconnected metabolic pathways, but most studies of soil N-cycling gene expression have focused on single pathways. Currently, we lack a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between soil N-cycling gene regulation, spatial habitat, and time. We present results from a replicated time series of soil metatranscriptomes; we followed gene expression of multiple N transformations in four soil habitats (rhizosphere, detritusphere, rhizo-detritusphere, and bulk soil) during active root growth for the annual grass, Avena fatua. The presence of root litter and living roots significantly altered the trajectories of N-cycling gene expression. Upregulation of assimilatory nitrate reduction in the rhizosphere suggests that rhizosphere bacteria were actively competing with roots for nitrate. Simultaneously, ammonium assimilatory pathways were upregulated in both rhizosphere and detritusphere soil, which could have limited N availability to plants. The detritusphere supported dissimilatory processes DNRA and denitrification. Expression of nitrification genes was dominated by three phylotypes of Thaumarch aeota and was upregulated in bulk soil. Unidirectional ammonium assimilation and its regulatory genes (GS/GOGAT) were upregulated near relatively young roots and highly decayed root litter, suggesting N may have been limiting in these habitats (GS/GOGAT is typically activated under N limitation). In conclusion, our comprehensive analysis indicates that differences in carbon and inorganic N availability control contemporaneous transcription of N-cycling pathways in soil habitats.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); Joint Genome Institute (JGI)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344; SC0020163; SC0016247
OSTI ID:
2203352
Report Number(s):
LLNL--JRNL-854336; 1082217
Journal Information:
mSystems, Journal Name: mSystems Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 8; ISSN 2379-5077
Publisher:
American Society for MicrobiologyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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