Impacts of plant domestication on soil microbial and nematode communities during litter decomposition

Javier Palomino*, Pablo García-Palacios, Gerlinde B. De Deyn, Laura Beatriz Martínez-García, Sara Sánchez-Moreno, Rubén Milla

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Plant domestication altered leaf litter quality. Since litter traits relate to soil functions and organisms (i.e., litter decomposition and soil decomposer communities), in this study we explore if domestication-induced changes in litter quality have affected their decomposability, and bacterial, fungal, and nematode communities in the soil. Methods: We collected leaf litter from herbaceous crops and their wild progenitors, and measured litter chemical and physical traits. Then, we performed a litter decomposition assay on a common soil. After three months of litter incubation, we measured mass loss, nematode richness and community composition in ten crops. We also measured soil bacterial and fungal richness and community composition in six crops. Results: Domesticated litters had less carbon (C) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC), which accelerated decomposition in comparison to wild litters. Fungal richness was higher in microcosms incubated with domesticated litters, while the effects of domestication on bacterial richness differed among crops. Domestication did not affect nematode richness. The effects of domestication on bacterial and fungal community compositions differed among crops. Soils with domesticated litters tended to have nematode communities with a higher abundance of bacterial feeding nematodes, in comparison to soils fed with wild litters. Conclusion: Domestication altered decomposition at different levels. Leaf litter decomposability increased with domestication, which might alter resource inputs into the soil. Feeding soils with domesticated litters had idiosyncratic effects on soil microbes, but consistent effects on soil nematodes. Overall, domestication altered the linkages between crop residues and soil communities differently for bacteria, fungi, and nematodes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)419-436
Number of pages18
JournalPlant and Soil
Volume487
Issue number1-2
Early online date15 Feb 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2023

Keywords

  • Bacteria
  • Fungi
  • Litter decomposition
  • Litter quality
  • Nematodes
  • Plant domestication

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