The nutrient-improvement bacteria selected by Agave lechuguilla T. and their role in the rhizosphere community. Issue 11 (2nd October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Medina-de la Rosa, Guadalupe; García-Oliva, Felipe; Alpuche-Solís, Ángel G; Ovando-Vázquez, Cesaré; López-Lozano, Nguyen E
• Is Part Of: FEMS microbiology ecology. Volume 97:Issue 11(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10-02
• Subjects: co-occurrence networks -- bacterial community -- Agave lechuguilla -- nitrogen-fixing bacteria -- organic phosphorus mineralizing bacteria; Microbial ecology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.17
• DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiab137
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-6496

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Agave lechuguilla has one of the widest distributions among other agave species in the Chihuahuan Desert. Their capacity to grow in poorly developed soils and harsh conditions has been related to their association with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. In this work, we explored how soil properties and plant growth stage influence the composition of the rhizobacterial communities, their interactions, and the enzymatic activity and abundance of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and organic phosphorus-mineralizing bacteria in two subregions of the Chihuahuan Desert. We found that mature plants of lechuguilla stimulated the activity and abundance of nutrient-improvement rhizobacteria, and these soil samples had a higher content of total organic carbon, ammonium (NH4 ) and nitrite + nitrate (NO2 +NO3 ). Nutrient availability seems to be an essential driver of the bacterial community's structure since the genera with more connections (hubs) were those with known mechanisms related to the availability of nutrients, such as env. OPS17 (Bacteroidetes), Gemmatimonadaceae uncultured, S0134 terrestrial group, BD211 terrestrial group (Gemmatimonadetes), Chthoniobacteracea and Candidatus Udaeobacter (Verrucomicrobia). This work shows that the late growth stages of lechuguilla recruit beneficial bacteria that favor its establishment and tolerance to harsh conditions of the arid lands. Abstract : Bacterial communities are selected during the growth of Agave lechuguilla, favoring the abundance and enzymatic activity of nutrient-improvement bacteria in the rhizosphere; these microbial groups are a key species in the interaction networks.