Effect of the aerenchymatous helophyte Glyceria maxima on the sulfate-reducing communities in two contrasting riparian grassland soils

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effect of the aerenchymatous helophyte Glyceria maxima on the sulfate-reducing communities in two contrasting riparian grassland soils

AU - Miletto, M.

AU - Bodelier, P.L.E.

AU - Ferdelman, F.G.

AU - Jørgensen, B.B.

AU - Laanbroek, H.J.

N1 - Reporting year: 2013 Metis note: 5413; ME

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Aims The research aimed at studying the effect of flooding with sulfate-rich water on the activity, abundance and diversity of sulfate-reducing micro-organisms present in the root zone of an oxygen-releasing plant growing on two riparian grassland soils with contrasting amounts of iron. Methods A series of microcosms was used to investigate the effects. Plants were grown under controlled conditions in microcosms containing a rhizosphere and bulk soil compartment for a period of 12 weeks in the presence of sulfate-rich flood water. Molybdate-treated systems served as non-sulfate-reducing controls. Results At harvest, activity and numbers of sulfate-reducing micro-organisms were higher in the absence of molybdate, but a rhizosphere effect and an impact of the presence of high levels of iron were not observed on activity and numbers. Both soils had in common a diverse community of sulfate-reducing micro-organisms covering all major cultured bacterial taxa. The appearance of members of the Desulfovibrionaceae exclusively in the rhizosphere of G. maxima was the only unambiguous indication of a plant effect. Conclusion The presence of sulfate-rich flood water stimulated the activity and growth of a part of the sulfate-reducing community leading to a change in community composition. The proximity of aerenchymatous plant roots and the abundance of iron in the soil had a negligible effect on the sulfate-reducing community.

AB - Aims The research aimed at studying the effect of flooding with sulfate-rich water on the activity, abundance and diversity of sulfate-reducing micro-organisms present in the root zone of an oxygen-releasing plant growing on two riparian grassland soils with contrasting amounts of iron. Methods A series of microcosms was used to investigate the effects. Plants were grown under controlled conditions in microcosms containing a rhizosphere and bulk soil compartment for a period of 12 weeks in the presence of sulfate-rich flood water. Molybdate-treated systems served as non-sulfate-reducing controls. Results At harvest, activity and numbers of sulfate-reducing micro-organisms were higher in the absence of molybdate, but a rhizosphere effect and an impact of the presence of high levels of iron were not observed on activity and numbers. Both soils had in common a diverse community of sulfate-reducing micro-organisms covering all major cultured bacterial taxa. The appearance of members of the Desulfovibrionaceae exclusively in the rhizosphere of G. maxima was the only unambiguous indication of a plant effect. Conclusion The presence of sulfate-rich flood water stimulated the activity and growth of a part of the sulfate-reducing community leading to a change in community composition. The proximity of aerenchymatous plant roots and the abundance of iron in the soil had a negligible effect on the sulfate-reducing community.

KW - international

U2 - 10.1007/s11104-013-1608-1

DO - 10.1007/s11104-013-1608-1

M3 - Article

SN - 0032-079X

VL - 370

SP - 73

EP - 87

JO - Plant and Soil

JF - Plant and Soil

IS - 1-2

ER -