Seasonal and Agricultural Response of Acidobacteria Present in Two Fynbos Rhizosphere Soils

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conradie_seasonal_2020.pdf(1.87 MB)
Date
2020-07-10
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MDPI
Abstract
The Acidobacteria is one of the most abundant phyla in most soil types. Fynbos plants are endemic to South Africa, and these soils provide the ideal habitat for Acidobacteria, because of its low pH and oligotrophic properties. However, little is known about their distribution in the fynbos biome and the impact of cultivation of plants on Acidobacterial diversity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of seasonal changes and cultivation on the relative abundance and diversity of Acidobacteria associated with Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) and Cyclopia spp. (honeybush). This study was based on rhizosphere soil. A total of 32 and 31 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified for honeybush and rooibos, respectively. The majority of these were classified as representatives of subdivisions 1, 2, 3, and 10. Significant differences in community compositions were observed between seasons for both honeybush and rooibos, as well as between the cultivated and uncultivated honeybush. Acidobacteria had a significantly positive correlation with pH, C, Ca2+, and P. In this study, we have shown the effect of seasonal changes, in summer and winter, and cultivation farming on the relative abundance and diversity of Acidobacteria present in the soil of rooibos and honeybush.
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CITATION: Conradie T & Jacobs K. 2020. Seasonal and agricultural response of Acidobacteria present in two fynbos rhizosphere soils. Diversity, 12(7). doi:10.3390/d12070277
The original publication is available at https://www.mdpi.com/journal/diversity
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
Keywords
acidobacteria, fynbos, rooibos, honeybush, soil, uncultivated, cultivated, winter, summer
Citation
Conradie T & Jacobs K. 2020. Seasonal and agricultural response of Acidobacteria present in two fynbos rhizosphere soils. Diversity, 12(7). doi:10.3390/d12070277
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/125210
Collections
Research Articles (Microbiology)