Project description:A genome-wide analysis of gene expression of the root-colonizing bacterium Pseudomonas putida KT2440 in the rhizosphere of corn (Zea mays var. Girona). To identify reliable rhizosphere differentially expressed genes by this bacterium, populations of P. putida KT2440 previously exposed to a rhizospheric life style for seven days in the rhizosphere of corn were compared with populations previously exposed to a rhizospheric life style for a long period of 138 days.
Project description:Background: The soil environment is responsible for sustaining most terrestrial plant life on earth, yet we know surprisingly little about the important functions carried out by diverse microbial communities in soil. Soil microbes that inhabit the channels of decaying root systems, the detritusphere, are likely to be essential for plant growth and health, as these channels are the preferred locations of new root growth. Understanding the microbial metagenome of the detritusphere and how it responds to agricultural management such as crop rotations and soil tillage will be vital for improving global food production. Methods: The rhizosphere soils of wheat and chickpea growing under + and - decaying root were collected for metagenomics sequencing. A gene catalogue was established by de novo assembling metagenomic sequencing. Genes abundance was compared between bulk soil and rhizosphere soils under different treatments. Conclusions: The study describes the diversity and functional capacity of a high-quality soil microbial metagenome. The results demonstrate the contribution of the microbiome from decaying root in determining the metagenome of developing root systems, which is fundamental to plant growth, since roots preferentially inhabit previous root channels. Modifications in root microbial function through soil management, can ultimately govern plant health, productivity and food security.
Project description:Metagenome data from soil samples were collected at 0 to 10cm deep from 2 avocado orchards in Channybearup, Western Australia, in 2024. Amplicon sequence variant (ASV) tables were constructed based on the DADA2 pipeline with default parameters.
Project description:The physiological and transcriptomic response of the metal resistant bacterium Cupriavidus metallidurans strain CH34 in response to stable (non-radioactive) strontium ions (Sr) was investigated. C. metallidurans CH34 could survive and proliferate in the presence of relatively high concentrations of SrCl2 (D10 is 70mM, MIC is 120 mM). Precipitation of Sr as strontium carbonate was observed in the culture during aerobic growth of CH34 in the presence of 60 mM SrCl2. To identify the cellular mechanisms involved in the bioprecipitation process, gene expression in the cells was analyzed after short-time (30 min) exposure to low (5 mM) and high (60 mM) concentrations of SrCl2. The transcription of the gene clusters annotated as hmyFCBA and czcCBADRS, coding for ion efflux pumps, was significantly induced following exposure to Sr, and not with Ca. There were also significant changes is the transcription of the genes encoding TctCBA proteins involved in citrate uptake and two hypothetical porin coding genes following exposure Sr and Ca. These results highlight a specific molecular response of bacterium Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 to Sr, including the identification of putative Sr specific efflux pumps, and thus the potential of this bacterium to distinguish Sr from Ca. These findings will help to better understand natural Sr (and Ca) microbial weathering or mineralization processes in the environment, and could be of interest for bioremediation or bioprocessing of (radioactive) Sr-containing water, soil or waste.