In the context of increasing global food demand, ecological intensification of agroecosystems is required to increase nutrient use efficiency in plants while decreasing fertilizer inputs. Better exploration and exploitation of soil resources is a major issue for phosphorus, given that rock phosphate ores are finite resources, which are going to be exhausted in decades from now on. We review the processes governing the acquisition by plants of poorly mobile nutrients in soils, with a particular focus on processes at the root–soil interface. Rhizosphere processes are poorly accounted for in most plant nutrition models. This lack largely explains why present-day models fail at predicting the actual uptake of poorly mobile nutrients such as phosphorus under low input conditions. A first section is dedicated to biophysical processes and the spatial/temporal development of the rhizosphere. A second section concentrates on biochemical/biogeochemical processes, while a third section addresses biological/ecological processes operating in the rhizosphere. New routes for improving soil nutrient efficiency are addressed, with a particular focus on breeding and ecological engineering options. Better mimicking natural ecosystems and exploiting plant diversity appears as an appealing way forward, on this long and winding road towards ecological intensification of agroecosystems.

Acquisition of phosphorus and other poorly mobile nutrients by roots. Where do plant nutrition models fail

Effects of organic amendment and tillage on soil microorganisms and microfauna

The microbial loop is thought to play a major role in the mineralization of nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in terrestrial ecosystems. This microbial loop is based on the grazing of bacteria by predators such as bacterial-feeding nematodes. However, little is known about the impact of grazing by nematodes on the mineral nutrition of woody plants. This study was undertaken to quantify the effect of nematode grazing on bacteria in the rhizosphere on the root architecture, growth and mineral nutrition (N and P) of a woody species (Pinus pinaster). Young P. pinaster seedlings were cultivated for 35 days in a simplified sterile experimental system with bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) and bacterivorous nematodes (Rhabditis sp.) isolated from soil samples collected from a 15-year old stand of maritime pine. To check the hypothesis that bacteria could be a source of nutrients, especially N, two N sources were supplied in the medium: (i) bacterial N labeled with (15)N and (ii) nitrate. Phosphorus was supplied as insoluble inorganic tri-calcium phosphate (TCP). The results showed that the (15)N flow from the bacteria to the plant shoots was only significant when nematodes were present, with an average accumulation of 14 +/- 5 mu g plant(-1) of (15)N. Plants cultivated with nematodes also accumulated significantly more total N in their shoots than sterile ones or inoculated with bacteria, resulting in a net average increase in N of 700 mu g plant(-1). The same result was observed for the total P accumulation in the shoots, as plants with nematodes accumulated an average of 300 mu g plant(-1) more P than sterile ones or inoculated with bacteria. However, the presence of bacteria, whether alone or with nematodes, did not modify the root architecture. These results demonstrated that the presence of bacterial-feeding nematodes significantly enhanced N and P availability to P. pinaster seedlings, probably by improving plant use of nitrate and insoluble P supplied in the medium.

Grazing by nematodes on rhizosphere bacteria enhances nitrate and phosphorus availability to Pinus pinaster seedlings

Phosphorus (P) occurs at low concentrations in soils because of the numerous processes responsible for P sorption or immobilisation. Soil P is also characterised by its restricted mobility, and thus the most limiting step of P acquisition is not its absorption by plant roots, but rather the many processes that determine the fate of soil P in the rhizosphere. This chapter describes these various processes, including those directly mediated by plants (which vary considerably with plant species), and those related to soil microbial and microfaunal activities. In order to overcome the restricted mobility of soil P, plants have evolved several features aimed at increasing the rhizosphere volume by increasing the absorptive surfaces, notably root elongation and branching. The formation of root hairs and mycorrhizas is also triggered by interactions with plant growth promoting microorganisms. Plants have also evolved strategies aimed at increasing soil P concentrations via the mobilisation of inorganic and organic pools of soil P. These imply changes in pH, and the release of P-mobilising compounds such as carboxylates and phosphatases, that are exuded by the roots themselves or by rhizosphere microorganisms. Finally, the soil microfauna (especially the predators of bacteria and fungi) play an important role in the cycling of soil P in the rhizosphere that deserves further consideration. (Resume d'auteur)

Impact of Roots, Microorganisms and Microfauna on the Fate of Soil Phosphorus in the Rhizosphere

Bacteria serve as live food and nutrients for bacterial-feeding nematodes (BFNs) in soils, and influence nematodes behavior and physiology through their metabolism. Five bacterial taxa (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens JX1, Variovorax sp. JX14, Bacillus megaterium JX15, Pseudomonas fluorescens Y1 and Escherichia coli OP50) and the typical BFN Caenorhabditis elegans were selected to study the effects of bacterial respiration and growth rates on the feeding preferences, brood size and lifespan of nematodes. P. fluorescens Y1 and E. coli OP50 were found to be more active, with high respiration and rapid growth, whereas B. amyloliquefaciens JX1 and B. megaterium JX15 were inactive. The nematode C. elegans preferred active P. fluorescens Y1 and E. coli OP50 obviously. Furthermore, worms that fed on these two active bacteria produced more offspring but had shorter lifespan, while inactive and less preferred bacteria had increased nematodes lifespan and decreased the brood size. Based on these results, we propose that the bacterial activity may influence the behavior and life traits of C. elegans in the following ways: (1) active bacteria reproduce rapidly and emit high levels of CO2 attracting C. elegans; (2) these active bacteria use more resources in the nematodes’ gut to sustain their survival and reproduction, thereby reducing the worm's lifespan; (3) inactive bacteria may provide less food for worms than active bacteria, thus increasing nematodes lifespan but decreasing their fertility. Nematodes generally require a balance between their preferred foods and beneficial foods, only preferred food may not be beneficial for nematodes.

/pdf/bacterial-respiration-and-growth-rates-affect-the-feeding-4u66przc2p.pdf

Bacterial Respiration and Growth Rates Affect the Feeding Preferences, Brood Size and Lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans

Bacterial-feeding nematodes constitute one of the primary grazers of soil bacteria. We investigated the effects of selective grazing of a representative nematode (Zeldia punctata, Cephalobidae) on nematode life history and population biology and on the soil microbial community. Firstly, we measured (i) the effect of five different bacterial strains on the nematode life cycle using petri dishes and (ii) the impact of bacterial inoculation on nematode population growth in a soil microcosm. Selection of the five bacterial strains was based on morphology, cell-wall characteristics and mucus production. Z. punctata development was strongly affected by the type of bacteria ingested, independent of experimental design. Bacterial cell-wall characteristics seemed to directly affect Z. punctata development since high nematode densities were only reached with gram-negative strains (Pseudomonas monteilii and Methylobacterium nodulans). In petri dishes, the filamentous organisms (Actinomyces sp.) and mucus-producing bacteria (Bradyrhizobium sp.) led to the least reproduction. Duration of the various nematode life phases (egg, juvenile, reproductive stage and non-reproductive stage) was significantly affected by the bacterial food source. Total life span varied from 12.5 days (Bradyrhizobium sp.) to 40 days (Pseudomonas monteilii). Secondly, we monitored the influence of Z. punctata on the indigenous soil microbial community in the presence or absence of a maize plantlet. Nematode inoculation led to an increase in bacterial activity (as measured by alkaline phosphatase activity) but did not significantly influence bacterial biomass. The genetic fingerprint (DGGE) of soil bacteria was more influenced by plant presence than by nematode inoculation. Nematode activity has important repercussions on N flux in the soil since inoculation of Z. punctata in the absence of plants resulted in a net increase of N mineralization (2 mg N per pot) while a decrease of mineral N (0.5 mg N per pot) was observed in the absence of the nematodes, due to bacterial immobilization. This study underscores the close relationship between selective bacterial grazing and nematode development. Nevertheless, the impact of nematode grazing on the overall soil microbial community seems to primarily affect microbial activity and relative dominance rather than microbial diversity.

Interactions between Zeldia punctata (Cephalobidae) and bacteria in the presence or absence of maize plants

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Interactions between Zeldia punctata (Cephalobidae) and bacteria in the presence or absence of maize plants