Abstract Detail

Mycology

Kazarina, Anna [1], Jumpponen, Ari [2], Mandyam, Keerthi [3], Panicker, Girish [4].

Temporal dynamics of Panicum virgatum bacterial and fungal communities overwhelm the planting density and variety effects.

Healthy plants and their rhizosphere soils host diverse bacteria and fungi – the plant microbiome. This microbiome is important for plant health and performance but is a dynamic system and can be affected by various biotic and abiotic factors that can rapidly change its functionality. We focused on native warm-season perennial grass Panicum virgatum (a.k.a. switchgass) growing under conservation agriculture conditions in Mississippi. Switchgrass has a great potential as a bioenergy crop on marginal or low-productivity agricultural lands. Because of its high economic and environmental potential, there is an increasing interest in understanding switchgrass microbiome to improve its sustainability and performance. However, only limited information is available about the seasonal microbiome dynamics during the growing season and plant development. We aimed to evaluate the effects of crop management (low- vs high-density planting of four lowland switchgrass varieties). We repeatedly sampled roots and soils approximating a log2 time series for a total of six times during one growing season, from the first leaf emergence in early spring to pre-frost in late fall and extracted DNA for MiSeq-analyses of bacterial and fungal metabarcodes. We tested for variety, density, and temporal effects on fungal and bacterial communities. Our data suggest a minimal effect of the planting density on bacterial and fungal communities. Similarly, the variety effect was present only in the first four weeks and absent thereafter few weeks since the first leaf emergence suggesting differences in plant development as an underlying driver. However, our data suggest that the swithcgrass microbiomes are temporally dynamic and significantly shape the microbiome composition. Our study has implications to management choices for sustainable cropping systems under the conservation agriculture principles and has the potential to improve our understanding of the understudied plant and microbiome interactions.

1 - Kansas State University, Division of Biology, 119 Anderson Hall. 919 Mid-Campus Dr. North., Manhattan, Kansas, 66502, United States
2 - Kansas State University, Division of Biology, 433 Ackert Hall, Manhattan, Kansas, 66502, United States
3 - Alcorn State University, Agriculture , 204E Morris Boykin Building, Alcorn State University , Lorman, MS, 36096
4 - Alcorn State University, Agriculture , 1000 ASU Drive #360 Alcorn State, Alcorn State University, Lorman, MS, 36096

Keywords:
Time-based dynamics
Conservation agriculture
Cultuvar effect  
Planting density effect  
Mycology.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: MY4, Mycology: Endophytes, Communities, Hydrophobins, and Transporters
Location: /
Date: Wednesday, July 21st, 2021
Time: 2:15 PM(EDT)
Number: MY4008
Abstract ID:464
Candidate for Awards:MSA Best Oral Presentation Award by a Graduate Student