My name is Dr. Babalola, currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Plant Biology at the University of Georgia. I am working on a collaborative project funded by United States Department of Energy with Nancy Collins Johnson research group at Northern Arizona University, and the project aim is investigating the development and assembly of root microbiomes in bioenergy sorghum across multiple generations through both field and greenhouse experiments. The goal of this research is to elucidate plant genes that are involved with generating beneficial microbial associations in roots, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth promoting bacteria. Achieving this goal will help to harness natural biotic associations that improve plant nutrition. This will ultimately reduce the need for inorganic fertilizers in the cultivation of sorghum used for biofuel feedstock.
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Plant microbiome research has increased due to the growing knowledge of how the microbiome affects plant nutrition, development, and immunity, and the decline in agricultural output due to environmental perturbations like drought and nitrogen (N) availability. We studied the temporal dynamics of fungus and soil enzyme activity in wheat throughout its life cycle after N fertilizer and reduced watering. We hypothesized that (H1) N fertilization and decreased watering decrease fungal operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness and alter community composition by decreasing Glomeromycota and increasing Ascomycota. (H2) N fertilization and decreased watering influence fungal diversity and community composition temporal dynamics.
We found substantial evidence of a fungal community composition shift during the growth season under baseline circumstances. N fertilization greatly affected fungi community composition regardless of watering treatment in roots and soil. However, fertilization and decreased watering did not affect fungal community succession. N fertilization significantly boosted β-1,4-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase, and urease in both watering regimens. The temporal study showed that nitrogen fertilisation did not affect soil enzyme activities under watering conditions.Our data showed that the N fertilizer had an impact on the composition and functions of fungal communities. However, even in cases where the original fungal communities were disturbed, there was still a strong process of succession.