Soil pH influences the structure of virus communities at local and global scales. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Sungeun; Sorensen, Jackson W.; Walker, Robin L.; Emerson, Joanne B.; Nicol, Graeme W.; Hazard, Christina
• Is Part Of: Soil biology and biochemistry. Volume 166(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: Viruses -- Prokaryotes -- Community structure -- pH; Soil biochemistry -- Periodicals; Soil biology -- Periodicals; Sols -- Biochimie -- Périodiques; Sols -- Biologie -- Périodiques; Sols -- Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Bodembiologie; Biochemie; 631.46
• DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108569
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-0717

Abstract

Abstract: The influence of biotic and abiotic factors on viral communities across environmental gradients in soil is relatively unknown. While soil pH strongly influences microbial community structure, it is unclear whether there is a similar influence on soil viruses. In this study, prokaryotic and viral communities were characterized in soils from a long-term pH-manipulated soil gradient (pH 4.5 and 7.5), and viral populations also compared to those of other soils ranging in pH (4.0–7.5). Viral communities were significantly influenced by pH at the local scale with 99% of viral operational taxonomic units restricted to pH 4.5 or 7.5 soil only. Analysis of viromes from six other European and North American soil systems demonstrated that a selection of viral clusters from acidic and neutral pH soils were more associated with those from the local gradient pH 4.5 or 7.5 soils, respectively. While direct pH effects on virion integrity and indirect selection via host composition were not distinguished, the results reveal that soil pH is a factor in structuring viral communities at local and global scales. Highlights: Soil virus community structure correlates with pH. Viromes recovered 73× more viral contigs ≥10 kb than untargeted metagenomes. Total metagenomes and viromes show the same community trends. Viruses associated with acidic or neutral pH were found in diverse soils.