Network analysis of nematodes with soil microbes on cool-season golf courses

Authors: ALLAN-PERKINS, ELISHA - University Of Massachusetts, Amherst; Manter, Daniel; WICK, ROBERT - University Of Massachusetts, Amherst; JUNG, GEUNHWA - University Of Massachusetts, Amherst

Submitted to: Rhizosphere
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/3/2023
Publication Date: 10/11/2023
Citation: Allan-Perkins, E., Manter, D.K., Wick, R., Jung, G. 2023. Network analysis of nematodes with soil microbes on cool-season golf courses. Rhizosphere. 28. Article e100798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rhisph.2023.100798.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rhisph.2023.100798

Interpretive Summary: Nematodes are an active part of soil food web and provide both positive and negative impacts on turf quality and production. The abundance of these nematodes depend upon their interaction with soil microbbes where some species are the preferred food source and others are pathogenic to nematodes. This study is the unique in its use of a network analysis to explore the relationship of the turf bacterial and fungal phytobiomes with nematodes. Keystone microbial species that are related to nematode populations were identified and are expected to be key regulators of nematode abundance and the potential management of beneficial and pathogneic nematodes in turf systems.

Technical Abstract: Nematodes are an active part of complex soil food webs on golf courses, with some members promoting plant growth, while others are pathogenic or neutralists. The artificial, sand-based rootzone mixes of golf course putting greens are especially prone to nematode damage. A better understanding of the interactions of nematodes with soil microbes is key to developing improved turf management strategies. The coupling of metagenomics with network analysis provides a way of better understanding which taxa are closely associated, allowing hypothesis generation to learn more about how nematodes interact with soil microbes. We performed weighted gene correlation network analyses on bacteria, fungi, and bacteria with nematodes and fungi with nematodes collected from the soil of roughs, fairways, and putting greens of three cool-season turfgrass golf courses on Martha’s Vineyard, MA. Rhodoplanes spp. were found in many bacterial modules, suggesting they may be a common species. Surprisingly, many nematodes formed positive correlations with known nematode antagonizing microbes. Among five nematode trophic groups, the carnivore nematodes were most connected to both bacteria and fungi, suggesting they may have previously overlooked interactions with soil microbes. The results of this work provide deeper insight into a unique, complex perennial ecosystem on golf courses that could be leveraged for improved turf health and disease management in the future. To our knowledge this study is the first use of network analysis to explore the relationship of the turf bacterial and fungal phytobiomes with nematodes.