Root exudate cocktails: the link between plant diversity and soil microorganisms?

ABSTRACT: Higher plant diversity is often associated with higher soil microbial biomass and diversity, which is assumed to be partly due to elevated root exudate diversity. However, there is little experimental evidence that diversity of root exudates shapes soil microbial communities. We tested whether higher root exudate diversity enhances soil microbial biomass and diversity in a plant diversity gradient, thereby negating significant plant diversity effects on soil microbial properties. We set up plant monocultures and two- and three-species mixtures in microcosms using functionally dissimilar plants and soil of a grassland biodiversity experiment in Germany. Artificial exudate cocktails were added by combining the most common sugars, organic acids, and amino acids found in root exudates. We appl

SUBMITTER: Steinauer K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5513276 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature