Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101274
Eduarda Lins Falcão , João Gabriel Lira de Carvalho , Jackson Roberto Guedes da Silva Almeida , Qiang-Sheng Wu , Fábio Sérgio Barbosa da Silva
The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has been recognized as an effective strategy to increase the accumulation of plant secondary metabolites. However, the role of this approach in promoting saponin production, molecules with broad applications across various industrial sectors, has received limited attention. Thus, this opinion paper aimed to synthesize studies that have investigated AMF inoculation to improve saponin accumulation. Thirty-five relevant publications on this topic were selected and their key findings were highlighted, such as the most frequently studied plant and AMF genera, and whether bioactivities were evaluated. The results underscore the potential of AMF in saponin biosynthesis, while also identifying research gaps that need to be addressed to enable large-scale application of this technology.
{"title":"An overlooked synergy: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and increased accumulation of plant saponins","authors":"Eduarda Lins Falcão , João Gabriel Lira de Carvalho , Jackson Roberto Guedes da Silva Almeida , Qiang-Sheng Wu , Fábio Sérgio Barbosa da Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101274","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101274","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has been recognized as an effective strategy to increase the accumulation of plant secondary metabolites. However, the role of this approach in promoting saponin production, molecules with broad applications across various industrial sectors, has received limited attention. Thus, this opinion paper aimed to synthesize studies that have investigated AMF inoculation to improve saponin accumulation. Thirty-five relevant publications on this topic were selected and their key findings were highlighted, such as the most frequently studied plant and AMF genera, and whether bioactivities were evaluated. The results underscore the potential of AMF in saponin biosynthesis, while also identifying research gaps that need to be addressed to enable large-scale application of this technology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101274"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101248
Yaseen Khan , Sulaiman Shah , Muhammad Faheem Jan , Mohammed Bouskout
Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis plays a pivotal role in nutrient acquisition and stress tolerance, making its regulation crucial for sustainable crop productivity. This review synthesizes current advances in understanding the molecular and physiological factors governing AM symbiosis, with emphasis on transcriptional, hormonal, and nutrient-mediated regulation. From pre-symbiotic signaling to root colonization and arbuscule development, AM formation is orchestrated by a complex network of molecular interactions. Transcription factors, including those with GRAS domains (e.g., NSP1, NSP2, RAM1, and DELLA), and other regulators such as MYB, SPX, WRKY, and CYCLOPS/IPD3, serve as central modulators of symbiosis-related gene expression. Phytohormones, including strigolactones, salicylic acid, and abscisic acid, generally promote symbiosis, whereas gibberellins and ethylene act as inhibitors; cytokinin exerts context-dependent effects. Nutrient status also modulates AM formation—low phosphorus and nitrogen promote, while high nutrient availability suppresses colonization. Collectively, these insights reveal the integrative regulatory networks driving AM symbiosis and offer new avenues to optimize symbiotic efficiency for enhanced plant growth and agricultural sustainability.
{"title":"Integrative regulatory networks modulating arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis","authors":"Yaseen Khan , Sulaiman Shah , Muhammad Faheem Jan , Mohammed Bouskout","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101248","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101248","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis plays a pivotal role in nutrient acquisition and stress tolerance, making its regulation crucial for sustainable crop productivity. This review synthesizes current advances in understanding the molecular and physiological factors governing AM symbiosis, with emphasis on transcriptional, hormonal, and nutrient-mediated regulation. From pre-symbiotic signaling to root colonization and arbuscule development, AM formation is orchestrated by a complex network of molecular interactions. Transcription factors, including those with GRAS domains (e.g., NSP1, NSP2, RAM1, and DELLA), and other regulators such as MYB, SPX, WRKY, and CYCLOPS/IPD3, serve as central modulators of symbiosis-related gene expression. Phytohormones, including strigolactones, salicylic acid, and abscisic acid, generally promote symbiosis, whereas gibberellins and ethylene act as inhibitors; cytokinin exerts context-dependent effects. Nutrient status also modulates AM formation—low phosphorus and nitrogen promote, while high nutrient availability suppresses colonization. Collectively, these insights reveal the integrative regulatory networks driving AM symbiosis and offer new avenues to optimize symbiotic efficiency for enhanced plant growth and agricultural sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101248"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101284
Zengpeng Chen , Qun zhong Meng , Yifan Liu , Liang Song , Minghua Liu
The extent of saline-alkali land poses a significant threat to global agricultural productivity and environmental ecosystems, emphasizing the growing need for remediation efforts. Hydraulic improvement, the major technology currently employed in saline-alkali land rehabilitation, efficiently enables quick desalination. However, the leaching process produces significant amounts of saline-alkali leachate (SAL). If discarded directly, it leads to the wasteful consumption of water resources, groundwater pollution, and secondary salinization, posing serious environmental dangers. As a result, addressing the inherent technological limitations and improving water resource recycling are crucial for sustainable management. This study presents a hydroponic system that combines calcium lignosulfonate (CLS) with microorganisms (MO) for the ecological treatment of SAL. The effects of the synergistic treatment on the physicochemical properties of SAL, rice physiological morphology, and microbial composition were comprehensively assessed. The results showed that the synergistic treatment decreased the pH and electrical conductivity (EC) of SAL by 8.21 %–25.88 %. The height of rice plants, leaf number, stem diameter, biomass, root length, nitrogen uptake, chlorophyll, and soluble protein content increased by 24.50 %–102.50 %. Reductions in osmoprotectants (22.82 %–38.29 %), lipid peroxidation production (42.17 %), and antioxidant enzyme activity (16.90 %–27.63 %) were observed. Furthermore, the treatment reshapes the aquatic rhizosphere microbial community structure, fosters closer mutualistic relationships, and may alter microbial community functions. These findings suggest that this treatment may be an effective and environmentally friendly option for improving plant growth in saline-alkali environments, providing a scalable technical pathway for the resource utilization of SAL.
{"title":"Synergistic effects of calcium lignosulfonate and microorganisms on saline-alkali leachate remediation: Enhancing plant growth and shaping rhizosphere microbial communities","authors":"Zengpeng Chen , Qun zhong Meng , Yifan Liu , Liang Song , Minghua Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101284","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101284","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The extent of saline-alkali land poses a significant threat to global agricultural productivity and environmental ecosystems, emphasizing the growing need for remediation efforts. Hydraulic improvement, the major technology currently employed in saline-alkali land rehabilitation, efficiently enables quick desalination. However, the leaching process produces significant amounts of saline-alkali leachate (SAL). If discarded directly, it leads to the wasteful consumption of water resources, groundwater pollution, and secondary salinization, posing serious environmental dangers. As a result, addressing the inherent technological limitations and improving water resource recycling are crucial for sustainable management. This study presents a hydroponic system that combines calcium lignosulfonate (CLS) with microorganisms (MO) for the ecological treatment of SAL. The effects of the synergistic treatment on the physicochemical properties of SAL, rice physiological morphology, and microbial composition were comprehensively assessed. The results showed that the synergistic treatment decreased the pH and electrical conductivity (EC) of SAL by 8.21 %–25.88 %. The height of rice plants, leaf number, stem diameter, biomass, root length, nitrogen uptake, chlorophyll, and soluble protein content increased by 24.50 %–102.50 %. Reductions in osmoprotectants (22.82 %–38.29 %), lipid peroxidation production (42.17 %), and antioxidant enzyme activity (16.90 %–27.63 %) were observed. Furthermore, the treatment reshapes the aquatic rhizosphere microbial community structure, fosters closer mutualistic relationships, and may alter microbial community functions. These findings suggest that this treatment may be an effective and environmentally friendly option for improving plant growth in saline-alkali environments, providing a scalable technical pathway for the resource utilization of SAL.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101284"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-16DOI: 10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101294
Magdalena Landl, Sibghat Ullah, Lena Lärm, Anja Klotzsche, Jan Vanderborght, Andrea Schnepf
Minirhizotrons (MR) enable non-destructive investigation of plant root systems in the field. However, MR images only provide information about root systems in the 2D plane, whose relationship to 3D root system measures remains unclear. This study uses model simulation to investigate the relationship between planar root length density (pRLD) as determined from MR images and volumetric root length density (vRLD) in the field.
We set up a virtual MR facility resembling the field MR facilities in Selhausen. Root systems of maize and winter wheat were grown around horizontally laid rhizotubes in a virtual field setup using the root architecture model CPlantBox. We calculated pRLD from virtual MR images, as well as vRLD from virtual soil layers.
Our simulations confirmed experimental observations of weak correlations between pRLD and vRLD in topsoil, and of strong correlations in subsoil. The ratio of vRLD to pRLD remained relatively constant across the entire subsoil depth. The greater the heterogeneity in the distribution of root length density or in the anisotropy of root growth across depth, the higher the ratio of vRLD to pRLD. Different numbers of MR images led to similar mean pRLD values if the MR images were distributed evenly along the rhizotube length. Larger rhizotube diameters resulted in lower vRLD-to-pRLD ratios, while different plant densities had no effect.
Model simulation provides valuable insights into the factors influencing the relationship between pRLD and vRLD. It also draws attention to the potential and limitations of using minirhizotron image data, making it a useful complement to experimental studies.
{"title":"Model-based insights on the relationship between planar root length density observed in minirhizotron images and volumetric root length density in the field","authors":"Magdalena Landl, Sibghat Ullah, Lena Lärm, Anja Klotzsche, Jan Vanderborght, Andrea Schnepf","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101294","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101294","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Minirhizotrons (MR) enable non-destructive investigation of plant root systems in the field. However, MR images only provide information about root systems in the 2D plane, whose relationship to 3D root system measures remains unclear. This study uses model simulation to investigate the relationship between planar root length density (pRLD) as determined from MR images and volumetric root length density (vRLD) in the field.</div><div>We set up a virtual MR facility resembling the field MR facilities in Selhausen. Root systems of maize and winter wheat were grown around horizontally laid rhizotubes in a virtual field setup using the root architecture model CPlantBox. We calculated pRLD from virtual MR images, as well as vRLD from virtual soil layers.</div><div>Our simulations confirmed experimental observations of weak correlations between pRLD and vRLD in topsoil, and of strong correlations in subsoil. The ratio of vRLD to pRLD remained relatively constant across the entire subsoil depth. The greater the heterogeneity in the distribution of root length density or in the anisotropy of root growth across depth, the higher the ratio of vRLD to pRLD. Different numbers of MR images led to similar mean pRLD values if the MR images were distributed evenly along the rhizotube length. Larger rhizotube diameters resulted in lower vRLD-to-pRLD ratios, while different plant densities had no effect.</div><div>Model simulation provides valuable insights into the factors influencing the relationship between pRLD and vRLD. It also draws attention to the potential and limitations of using minirhizotron image data, making it a useful complement to experimental studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101294"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-17DOI: 10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101292
Namid Krüger , Harihar Jaishree Subrahmaniam , Peter Mueller
Wetlands are hotspots for carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas exchange. Root exudation from plants might play an important role in these biogeochemical processes; however, a comprehensive overview of plant species-specific exudation profiles is still lacking, limiting quantitative and mechanistic insight.
The primary objective of this synthesis is to summarize available data on root exudation in wetland plants, focusing on studies reporting exudation rates. Additionally, we describe factors influencing exudation rates and composition, and compare exudation profiles across plant functional and taxonomic groups.
Organic acids contributed the most to the compounds identified in exudate profiles and were the compound class analyzed most frequently (74 % of observations). Exudation rates of sugars and amino acids were rarely reported and contributed often <10 % to the total exudation, each. Data on secondary compound exudation rates were lacking. The most important organic acids were acetic, citric, formic, lactic, malic, and oxalic acid, which were released at compound-specific median rates between 2 and 17 μg per gram dry weight root and hour, with high variability among species. Fructose and glucose were the main sugars released, each at a rate of 2 μg g−1 h−1. Plant functional type (graminoids, other herbaceous, mangroves, other woody) significantly affected exudation rates of several individual compounds, whereas no effect of plant family was detected. Our analysis showed that comparing exudation rates across studies remains challenging due to variable collection methods and environmental factors. We emphasize the need for a more comprehensive analysis of exudate profiles across wetland plant taxonomic and functional groups.
{"title":"Root exudate profiles of wetland plants - a quantitative synthesis of secretion rates","authors":"Namid Krüger , Harihar Jaishree Subrahmaniam , Peter Mueller","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101292","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101292","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wetlands are hotspots for carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas exchange. Root exudation from plants might play an important role in these biogeochemical processes; however, a comprehensive overview of plant species-specific exudation profiles is still lacking, limiting quantitative and mechanistic insight.</div><div>The primary objective of this synthesis is to summarize available data on root exudation in wetland plants, focusing on studies reporting exudation rates. Additionally, we describe factors influencing exudation rates and composition, and compare exudation profiles across plant functional and taxonomic groups.</div><div>Organic acids contributed the most to the compounds identified in exudate profiles and were the compound class analyzed most frequently (74 % of observations). Exudation rates of sugars and amino acids were rarely reported and contributed often <10 % to the total exudation, each. Data on secondary compound exudation rates were lacking. The most important organic acids were acetic, citric, formic, lactic, malic, and oxalic acid, which were released at compound-specific median rates between 2 and 17 μg per gram dry weight root and hour, with high variability among species. Fructose and glucose were the main sugars released, each at a rate of 2 μg g<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>. Plant functional type (graminoids, other herbaceous, mangroves, other woody) significantly affected exudation rates of several individual compounds, whereas no effect of plant family was detected. Our analysis showed that comparing exudation rates across studies remains challenging due to variable collection methods and environmental factors. We emphasize the need for a more comprehensive analysis of exudate profiles across wetland plant taxonomic and functional groups.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101292"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395914","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101291
Chongyuan Qin , Jinji Han , Jingnan Zhang , Bing Gao , Zhuoran Tan , Yingxin Han , Yinuo Pan , Jinghong Wang , Shuhua Lu
Cold stress severely constrains plant growth in temperate regions. While nitrogen fertilization can mitigate cold stress, the effectiveness of different ammonium/nitrate ratios and their interaction with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) remain poorly understood. This study employed a three-factorial design (temperature × ammonium/nitrate ratio × AMF inoculation) to investigate their combined effects on the cold tolerance of Hordeum jubatumby analyzing root anatomical structure and ionomic profiles. The results demonstrated that cold stress significantly inhibited root development, reducing root diameter, cortical thickness, and stele diameter, with the high ammonium treatments exacerbating these structural impairments. AMF inoculation alleviated the cold-induced reduction in stele diameter under high ammonium supply, maintaining a lower cortex-to-stele (C:S) ratio. Correlation analysis revealed that this optimized root anatomy, particularly a lower C:S ratio, was negatively correlated with the contents of multiple ions, indicating enhanced transport efficiency. Ionomic analysis showed that AMF inoculation significantly increased the uptake of key nutrients such as phosphorus, potassium, and iron in roots under cold stress. The synergistic combination of a balanced ammonium/nitrate ratio and AMF inoculation most effectively promoted shoot calcium and iron accumulation, thereby stabilizing ion homeostasis. These findings highlight that co-regulating nitrogen form and AMF symbiosis enhances cold tolerance by systemically improving root structural plasticity and ionomic stability, providing a theoretical basis for optimizing nutrient management in cold-region agriculture.
{"title":"Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and balanced ammonium/nitrate ratio synergistically enhance cold tolerance of Hordeum jubatum by modulating root structural plasticity and ion homeostasis","authors":"Chongyuan Qin , Jinji Han , Jingnan Zhang , Bing Gao , Zhuoran Tan , Yingxin Han , Yinuo Pan , Jinghong Wang , Shuhua Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101291","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101291","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cold stress severely constrains plant growth in temperate regions. While nitrogen fertilization can mitigate cold stress, the effectiveness of different ammonium/nitrate ratios and their interaction with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) remain poorly understood. This study employed a three-factorial design (temperature × ammonium/nitrate ratio × AMF inoculation) to investigate their combined effects on the cold tolerance of Hordeum jubatumby analyzing root anatomical structure and ionomic profiles. The results demonstrated that cold stress significantly inhibited root development, reducing root diameter, cortical thickness, and stele diameter, with the high ammonium treatments exacerbating these structural impairments. AMF inoculation alleviated the cold-induced reduction in stele diameter under high ammonium supply, maintaining a lower cortex-to-stele (C:S) ratio. Correlation analysis revealed that this optimized root anatomy, particularly a lower C:S ratio, was negatively correlated with the contents of multiple ions, indicating enhanced transport efficiency. Ionomic analysis showed that AMF inoculation significantly increased the uptake of key nutrients such as phosphorus, potassium, and iron in roots under cold stress. The synergistic combination of a balanced ammonium/nitrate ratio and AMF inoculation most effectively promoted shoot calcium and iron accumulation, thereby stabilizing ion homeostasis. These findings highlight that co-regulating nitrogen form and AMF symbiosis enhances cold tolerance by systemically improving root structural plasticity and ionomic stability, providing a theoretical basis for optimizing nutrient management in cold-region agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101291"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101275
Zhiliang Ma, Yamei Chen, Wenjuan Xu
Alpine shrub expansion restructures plant communities and soil biogeochemistry on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, but how contrasting plant coexistence patterns (shrub-conifer vs. mixed shrubs) shape microbial metabolic limitation across bulk/rhizosphere soils and soil layers remains unresolved—limiting predictions of ecosystem responses to vegetation shifts. We quantified microbial metabolic limitation via extracellular enzyme stoichiometry and vector properties in bulk/rhizosphere soils (organic/mineral layers) of expanding Salix oritrepha shrubs under three coexistence patterns: pure stands, coexistence with Picea likiangensis (shrub-conifer), or Sibiraea angustata (mixed shrubs). Our key findings reveal that microbial communities in S. oritrepha soils were primarily C- and P-limited, with coexisting plants identity driving divergent limitation patterns: relative to pure stands, conifer coexistence (P. likiangensis) consistently alleviated C limitation across all soils and layers, whereas mixed shrub coexistence (S. angustata) intensified C limitation (except for an alleviating effect in the mineral-layer rhizosphere). For P limitation, conifer coexistence strengthened limitation only in bulk soil, while mixed shrub coexistence primarily amplified P limitation in the rhizosphere. Soil moisture emerged as the dominant driver: it correlated positively with C limitation and negatively with P limitation. These results demonstrate that coexisting plants determines the direction and compartment-specificity of microbial resource limitation under shrub expansion—providing a functional framework to predict soil biogeochemical responses to alpine vegetation shifts, with critical implications for ecosystem management under global change.
{"title":"Plant coexistence shapes microbial carbon and phosphorus limitations in soils of expanding alpine shrubs","authors":"Zhiliang Ma, Yamei Chen, Wenjuan Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101275","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101275","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alpine shrub expansion restructures plant communities and soil biogeochemistry on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, but how contrasting plant coexistence patterns (shrub-conifer vs. mixed shrubs) shape microbial metabolic limitation across bulk/rhizosphere soils and soil layers remains unresolved—limiting predictions of ecosystem responses to vegetation shifts. We quantified microbial metabolic limitation via extracellular enzyme stoichiometry and vector properties in bulk/rhizosphere soils (organic/mineral layers) of expanding <em>Salix oritrepha</em> shrubs under three coexistence patterns: pure stands, coexistence with <em>Picea likiangensis</em> (shrub-conifer), or <em>Sibiraea angustata</em> (mixed shrubs). Our key findings reveal that microbial communities in <em>S. oritrepha</em> soils were primarily C- and P-limited, with coexisting plants identity driving divergent limitation patterns: relative to pure stands, conifer coexistence (<em>P. likiangensis</em>) consistently alleviated C limitation across all soils and layers, whereas mixed shrub coexistence (<em>S. angustata</em>) intensified C limitation (except for an alleviating effect in the mineral-layer rhizosphere). For P limitation, conifer coexistence strengthened limitation only in bulk soil, while mixed shrub coexistence primarily amplified P limitation in the rhizosphere. Soil moisture emerged as the dominant driver: it correlated positively with C limitation and negatively with P limitation. These results demonstrate that coexisting plants determines the direction and compartment-specificity of microbial resource limitation under shrub expansion—providing a functional framework to predict soil biogeochemical responses to alpine vegetation shifts, with critical implications for ecosystem management under global change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101275"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-03DOI: 10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101286
Xiaojuan Du, Xiaoxu Fan
As food demand increases, more and more agricultural ecosystems are widely applying nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers to boost yields. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have demonstrated outstanding potential in enhancing soil nutrient absorption and improving agricultural productivity by forming mutualistic symbiotic relationships with host plants. However, there is currently no definite conclusion regarding the impact of N and P fertilizer addition on AM fungal communities and soil nutrient content change in farmland. This study systematically evaluated the effects of N and P fertilizers by collecting 3147 sets of experimental data from 44 literatures. The results indicated that N addition significantly inhibited AM fungal α-diversity (within-community diversity), mainly reflected the inhibition of richness, Chao1 and abundance-based coverage estimator (ACE) indices. The application of urea or ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) also showed inhibitory effects on AM fungal α-diversity. P addition at rates >50 kg P ha−1 yr−1, also demonstrated notable inhibitory effects on the AM fungal α-diversity. The single or mixed addition of N or P addition significantly enhanced AM fungal β-diversity (the extent of community composition similarity) and altered their community structure. In terms of soil nutrient content, N addition significantly promoted the contents of nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) and electrical conductivity (EC), while inhibiting available phosphorus (AP). P addition significantly inhibited NO3−-N but significantly promoted AP. The combined addition of N and P significantly promoted AP. Random Forest model pinpointed soil pH as the dominant driver behind the multidimensional responses, including AM fungal communities α-diversity, β-diversity, and structure under N addition. From this, it could be seen that the study systematically elucidated N and P fertilization regulated the of AM fungal diversity and soil nutrient content in farmland, providing a theoretical basis for sustainable management of high agricultural yields and soil quality maintenance.
随着粮食需求的增加，越来越多的农业生态系统广泛使用氮(N)和磷(P)肥料来提高产量。丛枝菌根真菌（AM）通过与寄主植物形成共生关系，在促进土壤养分吸收和提高农业生产力方面具有突出的潜力。然而，氮磷肥添加对农田AM真菌群落和土壤养分变化的影响目前尚无明确结论。本研究收集了44篇文献3147组试验数据，系统评价了氮肥和磷肥的施用效果。结果表明，N添加显著抑制AM真菌α-多样性（群落内多样性），主要体现在对丰富度、Chao1和丰度覆盖估计（ACE）指数的抑制。施用尿素和硝酸铵对AM真菌α-多样性也有抑制作用。P添加速率为>；50 kg P ha−1 yr−1时，对AM真菌α-多样性也有显著的抑制作用。单一或混合添加N或P显著增强AM真菌β-多样性（群落组成相似程度），并改变其群落结构。在土壤养分含量方面，施氮显著提高了硝态氮（NO3−-N）含量和电导率（EC），抑制了速效磷（AP）。添加磷显著抑制NO3−-N，但显著促进AP， N和P联合添加显著促进AP。随机森林模型确定土壤pH是N添加下AM真菌群落α-多样性、β-多样性和结构等多维响应的主要驱动因素。由此可见，本研究系统阐明了氮磷肥对农田AM真菌多样性和土壤养分含量的调控作用，为农业高产可持续经营和土壤质量保持提供了理论依据。
{"title":"Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus addition on the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in agroecosystems","authors":"Xiaojuan Du, Xiaoxu Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101286","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101286","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As food demand increases, more and more agricultural ecosystems are widely applying nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers to boost yields. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have demonstrated outstanding potential in enhancing soil nutrient absorption and improving agricultural productivity by forming mutualistic symbiotic relationships with host plants. However, there is currently no definite conclusion regarding the impact of N and P fertilizer addition on AM fungal communities and soil nutrient content change in farmland. This study systematically evaluated the effects of N and P fertilizers by collecting 3147 sets of experimental data from 44 literatures. The results indicated that N addition significantly inhibited AM fungal α-diversity (within-community diversity), mainly reflected the inhibition of richness, Chao1 and abundance-based coverage estimator (ACE) indices. The application of urea or ammonium nitrate (NH<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>) also showed inhibitory effects on AM fungal α-diversity. P addition at rates >50 kg P ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>, also demonstrated notable inhibitory effects on the AM fungal α-diversity. The single or mixed addition of N or P addition significantly enhanced AM fungal β-diversity (the extent of community composition similarity) and altered their community structure. In terms of soil nutrient content, N addition significantly promoted the contents of nitrate nitrogen (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N) and electrical conductivity (EC), while inhibiting available phosphorus (AP). P addition significantly inhibited NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N but significantly promoted AP. The combined addition of N and P significantly promoted AP. Random Forest model pinpointed soil pH as the dominant driver behind the multidimensional responses, including AM fungal communities α-diversity, β-diversity, and structure under N addition. From this, it could be seen that the study systematically elucidated N and P fertilization regulated the of AM fungal diversity and soil nutrient content in farmland, providing a theoretical basis for sustainable management of high agricultural yields and soil quality maintenance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101286"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101288
Mariana V. Franções, Juan Fernández
The intensive application of synthetic herbicides in agriculture drives the urgent need for sustainable alternatives, particularly in the context of widespread herbicide resistance, environmental pollution, and health risks. This comprehensive review evaluates the potential of Streptomyces spp. as producers of bioherbicidal metabolites, focusing on their biochemical diversity, mechanisms of action, and prospects for weed management. A literature survey identified that Streptomyces species synthesize a broad spectrum of phytotoxic secondary metabolites—including thaxtomins, herbicidins, coronafacoyl compounds, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)—which demonstrate strong potential for biological weed control. These molecules act via distinct mechanisms, such as inhibition of cell wall biosynthesis, disruption of hormonal homeostasis, and interference with primary metabolism. However, the full realization of this potential is currently limited by challenges in large-scale production, including the metabolic complexity of biosynthesis, instability of active compounds, and insufficient formulation strategies. Bioherbicides derived from Streptomyces represent a promising and environmentally compatible alternative to synthetic options. Overcoming current barriers through advances in genomics, metabolic engineering, and formulation technology will be key to developing effective, scalable Streptomyces-based products and realizing their role in integrated and sustainable weed management.
{"title":"The bioherbicidal potential of Streptomyces spp.: Mechanisms, applications, and future prospects in sustainable weed management","authors":"Mariana V. Franções, Juan Fernández","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101288","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101288","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The intensive application of synthetic herbicides in agriculture drives the urgent need for sustainable alternatives, particularly in the context of widespread herbicide resistance, environmental pollution, and health risks. This comprehensive review evaluates the potential of <em>Streptomyces</em> spp. as producers of bioherbicidal metabolites, focusing on their biochemical diversity, mechanisms of action, and prospects for weed management. A literature survey identified that <em>Streptomyces</em> species synthesize a broad spectrum of phytotoxic secondary metabolites—including thaxtomins, herbicidins, coronafacoyl compounds, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)—which demonstrate strong potential for biological weed control. These molecules act via distinct mechanisms, such as inhibition of cell wall biosynthesis, disruption of hormonal homeostasis, and interference with primary metabolism. However, the full realization of this potential is currently limited by challenges in large-scale production, including the metabolic complexity of biosynthesis, instability of active compounds, and insufficient formulation strategies. Bioherbicides derived from <em>Streptomyces</em> represent a promising and environmentally compatible alternative to synthetic options. Overcoming current barriers through advances in genomics, metabolic engineering, and formulation technology will be key to developing effective, scalable <em>Streptomyces</em>-based products and realizing their role in integrated and sustainable weed management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101288"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Drought severely limits sesame production in arid regions. While arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can enhance drought tolerance, their efficacy is context-dependent, and a systematic ranking of AMF species for sesame, considering genotype-specific responses, is lacking. We assessed two cultivars (drought-sensitive 'Naz', drought-tolerant 'Yekta') inoculated with four AMF species (Claroideoglomus claroideum, Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus irregularis, and Glomus fasciculatum) under water deficit. A definitive genotype-AMF synergy was found. 'Naz' with Cl. claroideum showed superior resilience, reducing yield loss by 24.4 % and increasing yield by 59.8 % via improved nutrient uptake. The overall efficacy hierarchy was Cl. claroideum > F. mosseae > R. irregularis ≈ G. fasciculatum. While Cl. claroideum specialized in nutrient acquisition, F. mosseae stimulated soil phosphatase activity. This study establishes the first ranked hierarchy of AMF efficacy for sesame under drought and reveals a profound cultivar-specific response, providing a framework for precision bio-inoculation in arid agroecosystems.
{"title":"Cultivar-dependent responsiveness to mycorrhizal inoculation in sesame and ranking symbionts for drought mitigation","authors":"Masoumeh Ghasemi , Banafshe Khalili , Morteza Zahedi , Hamed Aalipour","doi":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101261","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rhisph.2026.101261","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Drought severely limits sesame production in arid regions. While arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can enhance drought tolerance, their efficacy is context-dependent, and a systematic ranking of AMF species for sesame, considering genotype-specific responses, is lacking. We assessed two cultivars (drought-sensitive 'Naz', drought-tolerant 'Yekta') inoculated with four AMF species (<em>Claroideoglomus claroideum</em>, <em>Funneliformis mosseae</em>, <em>Rhizophagus irregularis</em>, and <em>Glomus fasciculatum</em>) under water deficit. A definitive genotype-AMF synergy was found. 'Naz' with <em>Cl. claroideum</em> showed superior resilience, reducing yield loss by 24.4 % and increasing yield by 59.8 % via improved nutrient uptake. The overall efficacy hierarchy was <em>Cl. claroideum</em> > <em>F. mosseae</em> > <em>R. irregularis</em> ≈ <em>G. fasciculatum</em>. While <em>Cl. claroideum</em> specialized in nutrient acquisition, <em>F. mosseae</em> stimulated soil phosphatase activity. This study establishes the first ranked hierarchy of AMF efficacy for sesame under drought and reveals a profound cultivar-specific response, providing a framework for precision bio-inoculation in arid agroecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48589,"journal":{"name":"Rhizosphere","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 101261"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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