Showing papers by "Marc W. Schmid published in 2021"
TL;DR: It is indicated that as experimental ecosystems varying in plant diversity develop over 8 years, plant species associate with specific soil microbial taxa, which can have long-lasting effects on belowground community composition in re-assembled plant communities, as reflected in strong soil legacy signals still visible after 4 years of growing new plant communities.
Abstract: Plant and soil microbial diversities are linked through a range of interactions, including the exchange of carbon and nutrients but also herbivory and pathogenic effects. Over time, associations between plant communities and their soil microbiota may strengthen and become more specific, resulting in stronger associations between plant and soil microbial diversity. We tested this hypothesis at the end of a 4-year field experiment in 48 plots with different plant species compositions established 13 years earlier in a biodiversity experiment in Jena, Germany. We factorially crossed plant community history (old vs. new plant communities) and soil legacy (old vs. new soil) with plant diversity (species richness levels 1, 2, 4 and 8, each with 12 different species compositions). We use the term ‘plant community history’ to refer to the co-occurrence history of plants in different species compositions in the Jena Experiment. We determined soil bacterial and fungal community composition in terms of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) using 16S rRNA gene and ITS DNA sequencing. Plant community history (old plants) did not affect overall soil community composition but differentially affected bacterial richness and abundances of specific bacterial taxa in association with specific plant species compositions. Soil legacy (old soil) markedly increased soil bacterial richness and evenness and decreased fungal evenness. Soil fungal richness increased with plant species richness, regardless of plant community history or soil legacy, with the strongest difference between plant monocultures and mixtures. Specific plant species compositions and functional groups were associated with specific bacterial and fungal community compositions. Grasses increased fungal richness and evenness and legumes decreased fungal evenness, but bacterial diversity was not affected. Synthesis. Our findings indicate that as experimental ecosystems varying in plant diversity develop over time (2002–2010), plant species associate with specific soil microbial taxa. This can have long-lasting effects on below-ground community composition in re-assembled plant communities, as reflected in strong soil legacy signals still visible after 4 years (2011–2015). Effects of plant community history on soil communities are subtle and may take longer to fully develop.
29 citations
TL;DR: Based on the role of the common co-receptor BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1-ASSOCIATED KINASE 1 (BAK1), this paper identified the orphan receptor kinase HAESA-LIKE 3 (HSL3) as the CTNIP receptor via a proteomics approach.
Abstract: Plant genomes encode hundreds of secreted peptides; however, relatively few have been characterised. We report here an uncharacterised, stress-induced family of plant signalling peptides, which we call CTNIPs. Based on the role of the common co-receptor BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1-ASSOCIATED KINASE 1 (BAK1) in CTNIP-induced responses, we identified the orphan receptor kinase HAESA-LIKE 3 (HSL3) as the CTNIP receptor via a proteomics approach. CTNIP binding, ligand-triggered complex formation with BAK1, and induced downstream responses all involve HSL3. Notably, the HSL3-CTNIP signalling module is evolutionarily ancient, predating the divergence of extant angiosperms. The identification of this signalling module will help establish its physiological role and provides a resource to understand further receptor-ligand co-evolution.
11 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a reduced representation bisulfite sequencing approach (epi-genotyping by sequencing; epiGBS) was used to assess one type of nongenetic variation in maternal plants and offspring from natural populations of R. mangle from the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Abstract: The capacity to respond to environmental challenges ultimately relies on phenotypic variation which manifests from complex interactions of genetic and nongenetic mechanisms through development. While we know something about genetic variation and structure of many species of conservation importance, we know very little about the nongenetic contributions to variation. Rhizophora mangle is a foundation species that occurs in coastal estuarine habitats throughout the neotropics where it provides critical ecosystem functions and is potentially threatened by anthropogenic environmental changes. Several studies have documented landscape-level patterns of genetic variation in this species, but we know virtually nothing about the inheritance of nongenetic variation. To assess one type of nongenetic variation, we examined the patterns of DNA sequence and DNA methylation in maternal plants and offspring from natural populations of R. mangle from the Gulf Coast of Florida. We used a reduced representation bisulfite sequencing approach (epi-genotyping by sequencing; epiGBS) to address the following questions: (a) What are the levels of genetic and epigenetic diversity in natural populations of R. mangle? (b) How are genetic and epigenetic variation structured within and among populations? (c) How faithfully is epigenetic variation inherited? We found low genetic diversity but high epigenetic diversity from natural populations of maternal plants in the field. In addition, a large portion (up to ~25%) of epigenetic differences among offspring grown in common garden was explained by maternal family. Therefore, epigenetic variation could be an important source of response to challenging environments in the genetically depauperate populations of this foundation species.
11 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a 4-year long field experiment was conducted in which the authors factorially combined plant community history and soil legacy with plant diversity (1, 2, 4, 8, 60 species).
Abstract: Plant and soil microbial diversity are linked through a range of interactions, including the exchange of carbon and nutrients but also herbivory and pathogenic effects. Over time, associations between plant communities and their soil microbiota may strengthen and become more specific, resulting in stronger associations between plant and soil microbial diversity. We tested this hypothesis in a 4-year long field experiment in which we factorially combined plant community history and soil legacy with plant diversity (1, 2, 4, 8, 60 species). Plant community history and soil legacy refer to the presence (“old”) or absence (“new”) of a common history of plants and soils in 52 different plant species compositions during 8 years in a long-term biodiversity experiment in Jena, Germany. After 4 years of growth, we took soil samples in the new field experiment and determined soil bacterial and fungal composition in terms of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) using 16S rRNA gene and ITS DNA sequencing. Plant community history did not affect overall soil community composition but differentially affected bacterial richness and abundances of specific bacteria taxa in association with particular plant species compositions. Soil legacy markedly increased soil bacterial richness and evenness and decreased fungal evenness. Soil fungal richness increased with plant species richness, regardless of plant community history or soil legacy, with the strongest difference between plant monocultures and mixtures. Particular plant species compositions and functional groups were associated with particular bacterial and fungal community compositions. Grasses increased and legumes decreased fungal richness and evenness. Our findings indicate that as experimental ecosystems varying in plant diversity develop over 8 years, plant species associate with specific soil microbial taxa. This can have long-lasting effects on belowground community composition in re-assembled plant communities, as reflected in strong soil legacy signals still visible after 4 years of growing new plant communities. Effects of plant community history on soil communities are subtle and may take longer to fully develop.
2 citations