Reduced microbial diversity induces larger volatile organic compound emissions from soils

Letizia Abis,Virginie Nowak,Raluca Ciuraru,Sabine Houot,Benjamin Loubet,Pierre Alain Maron,Julie Tripied,Sophie Sadet-Bourgeteau,Florence Lafouge,Samuel Dequiedt

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-63091-8

Abstract

Microorganisms in soil are known to be a source and a sink of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The role of the microbial VOCs on soil ecosystem regulation has been increasingly demonstrated in the recent years. Nevertheless, little is known about the influence of the microbial soil community structure and diversity on VOC emissions. This novel study analyzed the effect of reduced microbial diversity in soil on VOC emissions. We found that reduced levels of microbial diversity in soil increased VOC emissions from soils, while the number of different VOCs emitted decreased. Furthermore, we found that Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and fungi phyla were positively correlated to VOC emissions, and other prokaryotic phyla were either negatively correlated or very slightly positively correlated to VOCs emissions. Our interpretation is that Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and fungi were VOC producers while the other prokaryotic phyla were consumers. Finally, we discussed the possible role of VOCs as mediators of microbial interactions in soil.

Highlights

Microorganisms in soil are known to be a source and a sink of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Since microorganisms play a central role in soil VOC emissions, we hypothesized that the manipulation of the microbial community in soil might lead to some variations in the quantity and quality of VOC emissions
A normalization of the VOC emissions by the microbial biomass levels showed no significant difference in the variation of VOC emissions with dilution compared to non-normalized data

Summary

Introduction

Microorganisms in soil are known to be a source and a sink of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The role of the microbial VOCs on soil ecosystem regulation has been increasingly demonstrated in the recent years. Little is known about the influence of the microbial soil community structure and diversity on VOC emissions. VOCs play a pivotal role in several processes such as the communication between organisms[15], alterations of microbial nutrient cycles[16] and growth rate of microorganisms colonizing the ecosystem[17]. The microbial community is a source of VOCs, and a sink that microorganisms use as a source of energy[20]. No studies have reported the measurement of VOC emissions in response to soil microbial diversity loss and organic waste amendment in the Organic Waste Product Control without organic input. Since microorganisms play a central role in soil VOC emissions, we hypothesized that the manipulation of the microbial community in soil might lead to some variations in the quantity and quality of VOC emissions

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion