Abstract
BackgroundPinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit. is a commonly used herb in traditional Chinese medicine, and the main raw material of various Chinese patent medicines. Continuous cropping obstacle (CCO) is the main factor leading to the decline of crop yields and quality.MethodsMetagenomics sequencing technology was used to analyze the microbial community and functional genes of continuous cropping (CC) and control (CK) soils of P. ternata. In addition, differences in physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, microbial community composition and the abundance of functional genes in CC and CK were evaluated, as well as the relationship between these factors and CCO.ResultsResults indicated that CC of P. ternata led to the decline of rhizosphere soil pH, nutrient imbalance and enzyme activity reduction. Metagenomic analysis indicted that CC also changed the composition of the microbial community, causing an increase in the relative abundance of pathogenic microorganisms such as Fusarium, Klebsiella oxytoca and Pectobacterium carotovorum in the P. ternata rhizosphere. The relative abundance of potentially beneficial Burkholderia and Bradyrhizobium was recorded to decrease. Results also showed that there were considerable differences in CC and CK about the abundances of functional genes related to soil enzymes and the degradation of P. ternata allelochemicals, as well as the microbial groups which they belong. These results clarified the effects of CC on the microbial community structure and functional genes of soil. In addition, Burkholderia and Bradyrhizobium might play important roles in enhancing soil fertility and reducing the toxicity of phenolic acids in rhizosphere soil.ConclusionsCC of P. ternata changed the physicochemical properties, microbial community and functional genes of rhizosphere soil. Burkholderia and Bradyrhizobium for enhancing soil fertility and reducing the toxicity of phenolic acids might be potentially beneficial. These results provide theoretical guidance for bioremediation of CCO soil of P. ternata and other staple crops.Graphic abstract
Highlights
Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit. is a commonly used herb in traditional Chinese medicine, and the main raw material of various Chinese patent medicines
CAT, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and Suc activities of CK were significantly higher than those of continuous cropping (CC) (p < 0.01). This might be related to the increase of allelochemicals such as Total phenolic acid (TPA) caused by CC (Table 1), which could inhibit the enzyme activity of soil microorganisms [44]
The reduction of soil enzyme activity might lead to the decline of soil quality and ecosystem stability [42], and increase the accumulation of toxic substances in the rhizosphere soil of P. ternata [40]
Summary
Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit. is a commonly used herb in traditional Chinese medicine, and the main raw material of various Chinese patent medicines. Is a commonly used herb in traditional Chinese medicine, and the main raw material of various Chinese patent medicines. Continuous cropping obstacle (CCO) is the main factor leading to the decline of crop yields and quality. Continuous cropping obstacles (CCO) indicates that when the same crop or closely related crops are continuously planted on the same land, crop diseases and pests are exacerbated and crop yield and quality decline, even under normal cultivation management measures. The CC of P. ternata will cause aggravation of pests and diseases, soil salinization and acidification, and reduce the photosynthetic performance of leaves [7] and the activity of antioxidant enzymes of the plant, lead to membrane lipid peroxidation damage [8, 9], resulting in the yield and quality decline of P. ternata. Long rotation periods and the reduction of cultivation area greatly reduce the utilization rate of P. ternata land resources, thereby seriously restricting the sustainable development of the P. ternata industry
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