Landmark Papers: No. 6

Abstract

This is the sixth in the Landmark series of key papers published in the journal. This paper was published at the time of rapid development in molecular techniques based on DNA extraction from soil to characterize microbial communities. It directed readers to the potential of these techniques, but also to the challenges and pitfalls. We chose this paper because, as for the others, it is amongst our top cited papers with over 600 citations, and also for its considerable contribution to this fast developing branch of soil science. It was the most downloaded paper in the journal last year with almost 2200 downloads, whereas the second most downloaded paper had just over 1500. The paper's importance lies in the fact that Nannipieri et al. (2003) focused on the link between microbial diversity and soil functions, which remains of great relevance in the ever-expanding field of soil microbiology. Landmark Paper 6 by P. Nannipieri, J. Ascher, M. T. Ceccherini, L. Landi, G. Pietramellara & G. Renella was published in the European Journal of Soil Science in 2003, volume 54, pages 655–670, on ‘Microbial diversity and soil functions’. This paper was very timely because of the rapid increase in techniques based on the extraction of DNA from soil and the more challenging gene sequencing. Nannipieri et al. saw that these new approaches posed challenges for soil microbiology, which are summarized in the commentary that follows the reflections of Nannipieri et al. Between 2003 and 2016, the molecular techniques applied in the study of soil microbial diversity developed rapidly. Nevertheless, determining the expression of microbial genes requires improved techniques for the characterization of soil proteomics. The importance of the paper is evident further in the comprehensive commentary by three of the Journal's Associate Editors (Evgenia Blagodatskaya, Jennifer Dungait & Olaf Schmidt). Publication of the sixth Landmark Paper is accompanied and supported by an on-line, virtual issue that comprises a selection of papers published on this subject in the Journal and its predecessor, the Journal of Soil Science, from 1955 to the most recent one in 2015 that explores the effects of microclimate on soil bacterial communities across two contrasting timberline ecotones in southeast Tibet. This virtual issue shows the long-standing interest of the soil science community in soil microbiology since the inception of the Journal of Soil Science in 1950. Many of the papers that follow the paper by Nannipieri et al. in the EJSS have been strongly influenced by it. I thank P. Nannipieri, J. Ascher-Jenull, M.T. Ceccherini, L. Giagnoni, G. Pietramellara & G. Renella for their reflections on the Landmark paper and for placing it in the current context. I also thank E. Blagodatskaya, J.A.J. Dungait & O. Schmidt for their excellent and innovative commentary, which puts this important paper into both its historical and current perspective. I hope that readers of the Journal and of the associated virtual issue will re-read the original paper, read the authors' reflections and the commentary, and be stimulated by the variety of papers assembled in the virtual issue. There is still much to be done in soil microbiology because understanding soil functions remains challenging; however, omic techniques should help us to tackle these challenges. Nannipieri et al. in their reflections recommend a combination of classical with molecular techniques as the best approach to gain insight into soil functions. The unanswered questions make science exciting and spur researchers to tackle new challenges. Research in soil microbiology will provide many answers in the future to soil processes that are at the core of soil health and security.