Journal article
Collaborative involvement of woody plant roots and rhizosphere microorganisms in the formation of pedogenetic clays
Annals of Botany, Vol.124(6), pp.1007-1018
2019
Abstract
Background and Aims: Previous studies have described the laying down of specific B horizons in south-western Australian ecosystems. This paper presents biomolecular, morphological and physicochemical analyses elucidating the roles of specific woody plant taxa and rhizosphere bacteria in producing these phenomena. Methods: Clayey deposits within lateral root systems of eucalypts and appropriate background soil samples were collected aseptically at multiple locations on sand dunes flanking Lake Chillinup. Bacterial communities were profiled using tagged next-generation sequencing (Miseq) of the 16S rRNA gene and assigned to operational taxonomic units. Sedimentation, selective dissolution and X-ray diffraction analyses quantitatively identified clay mineral components. Comparisons were made of pedological features between the above eucalypt systems, giant podzols under proteaceous woodland on sand dunes at the study site of Jandakot and apparently similar systems observed elsewhere in the world. Key Results: Bacterial communities in clay pods are highly diverse, resolving into 569 operational taxonomic units dominated by Actinobacteria at 38.0-87.4 % of the total reads. Multivariate statistical analyses of community fingerprints demonstrated substrate specificity. Differently coloured pods on the same host taxon carry distinctive microfloras correlated to diversities and abundances of Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. A number of these microbes are known to form biominerals, such as phyllosilicates, carbonates and Fe-oxides. A biogenic origin is suggested for the dominant identified mineral precipitates, namely illite and kaolinite. Comparisons of morphogenetic features of B horizons under eucalypts, tree banksias and other vegetation types show remarkably similar developmental trajectories involving pods of precipitation surrounding specialized fine rootlets and their orderly growth to form a continuous B horizon. Conclusions: The paper strongly supports the hypothesis that B-horizon development is mediated by highly sophisticated interactions of host plant and rhizosphere organisms in which woody plant taxa govern overall morphogenesis and supply of mineral elements for precipitation, while rhizosphere microorganisms execute biomineralization processes.
Details
- Title
- Collaborative involvement of woody plant roots and rhizosphere microorganisms in the formation of pedogenetic clays
- Authors
- Frank Reith (Author) - University of AdelaideWilliam Verboom (Corresponding Author) - University of Western AustraliaJohn Pate (Author) - University of Western AustraliaDavid Chittleborough (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sustainability Research Centre
- Publication details
- Annals of Botany, Vol.124(6), pp.1007-1018
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- DOI
- 10.1093/aob/mcz065
- ISSN
- 0305-7364
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Sustainability Research Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450891502621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Plant Sciences
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Source: InCites