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A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 16663

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Dr. Roberta Pastorelli

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Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA-AA), 50125 Florence, Italy
Interests: microbial ecology; microbial process in biogeochemical cycles; plant-associated bacteria
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Dear Colleagues,

Soil microorganisms, including fungi, bacteria, protozoa, and algae, contribute to a range of essential processes involved in soil conservation and biogeochemical cycles. They play crucial roles in the decomposition of plant materials and interact with living plants as symbionts or pathogens, as well as promoting plant growth and root exudation.

This Special Issue will provide a selection of the most recent and significantly research on interactions that soil microorganisms may establish with forest plants and with other microorganisms. Original research articles and reviews are welcome to provide new insight into the functioning of forest ecosystems.

Dr. Roberta Pastorelli
Guest Editor

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Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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Keywords

soil structure
microbial diversity
plant-associated microorganisms
root exudation
litter and deadwood decomposition
biogeochemical cycles
greenhouse gas emission

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 3537 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Correlation between the Concentration of Secondary Metabolites and Soil Microorganisms in Sophora Koreensis Nakai from Different Habitat

by Hwa Lee and Eun Ju Cheong

Forests 2022, 13(7), 1079; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13071079 - 9 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1249

Abstract

Sophora koreensis is an endemic species of Gangwon-do, Korea, that has a variety of applications for foods and for folk remedies. Here this research analyzed and compared compounds present in leaves, stems, and roots of S. koreensis collected from three different habitats in Chuncheon, Inje and Yanggu in South Korea. This research also analyzed soil microorganisms present in the three habitats to determine the correlation between the compound and microorganisms. N-methylcytisine was the most common compound in all three habitats, but the amounts varied with Chuncheon having the highest amount (509 mg/L), followed by Yanggu and Inje(102 mg/L and 39 mg/L, respectively). The composition of microorganisms also varied by habitat. Yanggu, Inje, and Chuncheon had 1013, 973, and 814 taxa, respectively. According to the phylogenetic relations, the composition of the soil microorganisms in Chuncheon was significantly different from the other two. It contained more PAC000121_g (Solibacteres), major taxa in all three habitats (14% in Chuncheon). In contrast less Opitutus minor taxa was found than Yannggu and Inje. The correlation between the soil microorganism N-methylcytisine was analyzed. Among these microorganisms, Paraburkholderia had a positive correlation with N-methylcytisine. Meanwhile, Rhizomicrobium, CP011215_f (Paceibacter), KB906767_g (Solibacteres) and Opitutus negatively correlated with N-methylcytisine. The results suggested that soil microorganisms in the habitats influenced the variations of the N-methylcytisine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Soil–Plant–Microorganisms Interactions)

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16 pages, 1935 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Ciliate Community Diversity in Decaying Pinus nigra Logs

by Roberta Pastorelli, Maria Alexandra Cucu, Alessandra Lagomarsino, Alessandro Paletto and Isabella De Meo

Forests 2022, 13(5), 642; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050642 - 21 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1845

Abstract

Ciliates are an important component of the detritus and energy flow in forest ecosystems. The present study aims to provide an early insight into the abundance and composition of the ciliate community inhabiting deadwood in relation to the different decay classes. We took advantage of a mesocosm experiment of black pine deadwood already underway to evaluate changes in chemical properties, microbial communities, and potential CO₂ emissions over time. The abundance and the number of ciliate taxa increased as wood decay progressed. Greater diversity was observed in the early stages of decomposition, while similarity in community composition increased along the decomposition gradient with several taxa commonly found in the more decomposed classes 3–5. The identified species were related to soil-inhabiting ciliates and mainly belonged to Colpodea and Spirotrichea classes. Ciliate abundance correlated positively with bacterial abundance, total nitrogen (N), and CO₂ potential production, while it correlated negatively with the C/N ratio. Through grazing activity, ciliates contribute to regulate the degrading activity of microbial communities inhabiting deadwood and CO₂ emission, enhancing soil fertility. Looking ahead, specific ciliate taxa may be used as indicators of the stage of decomposition and their biodiversity may provide knowledge into deadwood decay activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Soil–Plant–Microorganisms Interactions)

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19 pages, 3022 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Fungal and Bacterial Communities in Tuber melanosporum Plantations from Northern Spain

by Celia Herrero de Aza, Sergio Armenteros, James McDermott, Stefano Mauceri, Jaime Olaizola, María Hernández-Rodríguez and Olaya Mediavilla

Forests 2022, 13(3), 385; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13030385 - 26 Feb 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5818

Abstract

Tuber melanosporum (Ascomycota, Pezizales) is an ectomycorrhizal fungus that produces highly appreciated hypogeous fruiting bodies called black truffles. The aim of this paper was to research the composition of ectomycorrhiza-associated fungal and bacterial communities in T. melanosporum oak plantations. Results of this paper showed the competitive effect of T. melanosporum on other fungal species, especially other mycorrhizal and pathogenic species. T. melanosporum was shown to be associated mainly with bacteria, some of them important for their properties as mycorrhizal helper bacteria. A dendrogram analysis of co-occurrence showed that T. melanosporum tended to co-occur with the following bacteria species: Singulisphaera limicola, Nannocistis excedens and Sporosarcina globispora. In addition, it was linked to fungal species such as Mortierella elongata, M. minutissima, Cryptococcus uzbekistanensis, C. chernovii and C. aerius. This study provides an exhaustive analysis of the diversity, structure and composition of fungal and bacterial communities associated with T. melanosporum to enhance understanding of the biology, composition and role of these communities in truffle plantations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Soil–Plant–Microorganisms Interactions)

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13 pages, 1628 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Methane Contributions of Different Components of Kandelia candel–Soil System under Nitrogen Supplementation

by Chen Feng, Huiming You, Fanglin Tan, Jianliang Han, Xiaoxue Yu, Weibin You and Dongjin He

Forests 2022, 13(2), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13020318 - 15 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1892

Abstract

Kandelia candel is the most widely distributed tree species on the southeast coast of China and is also the main afforestation tree species along the coastal wetland. In recent years, inorganic nitrogen pollution has become increasingly severe, and investigating the effects of nitrogen input on methane emissions in Kandelia candel–soil systems has become significant from a global change perspective. However, the effect of nitrogen input on methane emissions in coastal wetland systems is still uncertain. The field tidal environment is complex and varied, and thus it is difficult to accurately control the amount of nitrogen in the system. Therefore, in order to accurately assess the effects of different concentrations of foreign nitrogen input on methane emission fluxes in a Kandelia candel–soil system, we use indoor tidal simulation experimental devices and design two simulation systems with and without plant planting to explore the difference of methane emission flux in this system under five nitrogen input concentrations: N0 (0 g N·m⁻²·a⁻¹), N1 (5 g N·m⁻²·a⁻¹), N2 (10 g N·m⁻²·a⁻¹), N3 (20 g N·m⁻²·a⁻¹), and N4 (30 g N·m⁻²·a⁻¹). The results showed that: (1) The introduction of Kandelia candel promoted methane emissions in coastal wetland ecosystem. Under each nitrogen application concentration, the mean CH₄ emission flux in the planting group was 42.98%, 65.59%, 40.87%, 58.93% and 39.23% higher than that in the non-planting group, respectively. (2) Nitrogen input significantly promoted methane emissions in both planted and non-planted environments, and the promoting effect showed as follows: N4 > N3 > N2 > N1 > N0. (3) After the introduction of Kandelia candel, the contribution of Kandelia candel and soil microorganisms to methane emissions was different under different concentrations of nitrogen addition. The contribution rate of Kandelia candel to CH₄ emission flux of Kandelia candel–soil system ranged from 10.74% to 60.25%, with an average contribution rate of 37.30%. The changed soil microbes contributed 39.75% to 89.26% to the CH₄ emission flux in the Kandelia candel–soil system, with an average contribution rate of 62.60%. Under N3 nitrogen application concentration, the emission flux of plant was the largest, which was significantly higher than that of the soil microbial pathway; at other concentrations, the methane emissions from the soil microbial pathway were greater than that of the plant pathway, and the contribution rate to the plant–soil system reached 60.25%. The results of this study provide an important basis for improving the estimation accuracy of carbon emissions in coastal waters and formulating policies for the restoration and protection of coastal wetlands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Soil–Plant–Microorganisms Interactions)

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13 pages, 2381 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heterotrophic Bacteria Play an Important Role in Endemism of Cephalostachyum pingbianense (Hsueh & Y.M. Yang ex Yi et al.) D.Z. Li & H.Q. Yang, 2007, a Full-Year Shooting Woody Bamboo

by Tize Xia, Lushuang Li, Bin Li, Peitong Dou and Hanqi Yang

Forests 2022, 13(1), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13010121 - 14 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1877

Abstract

The previous studies show soil microbes play a key role in the material and nutrient cycles in the forest ecosystem, but little is known about how soil microbes respond to plant distribution, especially in the soil bacterial community in woody bamboo forests. Cephalostachyum pingbianense (Hsueh & Y.M. Yang ex Yi et al.) D.Z. Li & H.Q. Yang, 2007 is known as the only bamboo species producing shoots all year round in natural conditions. Endemic to the Dawei mountain in Yunnan of China, this species is a good case to study how soil bacteria respond to plant endemic distribution. In this work, we assayed the soil chemical properties, enzyme activity, changes in the bacterial community along the distribution range of the C. pingbianense forest. The results showed that soil nutrients at the range edge were nitrogen-rich but phosphorus-deficient, and soil pH value and soil urease activity were significantly lower than that of the central range. No significant difference was detected in soil bacterial diversity, community composition, and function between the central and marginal range of C. pingbianense forest. Notably, the relative abundance of heterotrophy bacteria, such as Variibacter and Acidothermus, in the soil of the C. pingbianense forest was significantly higher than that of the outside range, which may lead to a higher soil organic carbon mineralization rate. These results imply that abundant heterotrophy bacteria were linked to the endemism and full-year shooting in C. pingbianense. Our study is amongst the first cases demonstrating the important role of heterotrophy bacteria in the distribution formation of endemic woody bamboos in special soil habitats, and provides insight into germplasm conservation and forest management in woody bamboos. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Soil–Plant–Microorganisms Interactions)

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15 pages, 3568 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Metaproteomics as a Tool for Environmental Monitoring of Minelands

by Felipe Costa Trindade, Markus Gastauer, Silvio Junio Ramos, Cecílio Frois Caldeira, Josiney Farias de Araújo, Guilherme Oliveira and Rafael Borges da Silva Valadares

Forests 2021, 12(9), 1158; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12091158 - 26 Aug 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2751

Abstract

Opencast mining drastically alters the landscape due to complete vegetation suppression and removal of topsoil layers. Precise indicators able to address incremental changes in soil quality are necessary to monitor and evaluate mineland rehabilitation projects. For this purpose, metaproteomics may be a useful tool due to its capacity to shed light on both taxonomic and functional overviews of soil biodiversity, allowing the linkage between proteins found in soil and ecosystem functioning. We investigated bacterial proteins and peptide abundance of three different mineland rehabilitation stages and compared it with a non-rehabilitated site and a native area (evergreen dense forest) in the eastern Amazon. The total amount of identified soil proteins was significantly higher in the rehabilitating and native soils than in the non-rehabilitated site. Regarding soil bacterial composition, the intermediate and advanced sites were shown to be most similar to native soil. Cyanobacteria and Firmicutes phyla are abundant in the early stages of environmental rehabilitation, while Proteobacteria population dominates the later stages. Enzyme abundances and function in the three rehabilitation stages were more similar to those found in the native soil, and the higher accumulation of many hydrolases and oxidoreductases reflects the improvement of soil biological activity in the rehabilitating sites when compared to the non-rehabilitated areas. Moreover, critical ecological processes, such as carbon and nitrogen cycling, seem to return to the soil in short periods after the start of rehabilitation activities (i.e., 4 years). Metaproteomics revealed that the biochemical processes that occur belowground can be followed throughout rehabilitation stages, and the enzymes shown here can be used as targets for environmental monitoring of mineland rehabilitation projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Soil–Plant–Microorganisms Interactions)

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