Abstract
The composition and diversity of rhizosphere microbial communities may be due to root–soil–microbial interactions. The fine root functional traits and rhizosphere soil environmental factors of 13 representative plants in the Bawangling tropical cloud forest of Hainan Island were measured, to assess the key factors driving plant rhizosphere microbial communities. Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology was used to sequence the v3-V4 region of the 16SrDNA gene of 13 plant rhizosphere soil bacteria and the ITS1 region of the fungal ITSrDNA gene. Results showed that there were 355 families, 638 genera, and 719 species of rhizosphere soil bacteria as well as 29 families, 31 genera, and 31 species of rhizosphere soil fungi in the tropical cloud forests. The fine root traits, such as root phosphorus content, the specific root length and specific root area, were significantly negatively correlated with the Faith-pd indices of the bacterial community but were not correlated with the diversity of fungi communities. The soil pH was significantly and positively correlated with the Chao1 index, OTUs, Faith-pd and Simpson indices of the bacteria and fungi communities. The soil available phosphorus content was significantly and negatively correlated with the bacteria Simpson and the fungus Faith-pd indices. ABT analysis showed that soil pH and soil available phosphorus were the most important environmental conditions contributing to the rhizosphere bacterial and fungi communities, respectively. Our findings demonstrate that the soil environments had more influence on rhizosphere soil microbial diversity than the fine root functional traits.
Highlights
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutralThe rhizosphere is the soil region directly affected by plant roots and is the place where roots, soil microorganisms, and soil interact [1,2]
The 3 phyla, 11 classes, 22 orders, 29 families, 31 genera, and 31 species of rhizosphere soil fungi were found in the plants collected from the Bawangling tropical cloud forest
The Chao1 index of bacteria was found in the range of 547.111–1247.667, the Shannon index 7.867–9.245, and the Simpson index was in the range of 0.988–0.998098189
Summary
The rhizosphere is the soil region directly affected by plant roots and is the place where roots, soil microorganisms, and soil interact [1,2]. The community structure, abundance, and diversity of the rhizosphere microorganisms are affected by root–soil–microbe interactions [4]. Plant roots and soil are two important components of the root–soil–microbe interface and are the main factors that influence the composition and structure of the rhizosphere microbial community [5,6]. Plant roots continuously secrete various substances to promote plants’ absorption of mineral elements and provide the rhizosphere soil microbes with sugars, sugar alcohols, amino acids and phenolics as nutrient and energy supplies [7]. The type and quantity of the root exudates determine the type and quantity of rhizosphere microorganisms and affect the rhizosphere soil microbial community structure and carbon source utilization [8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call