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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #421524
Research Project: Expanding Resiliency and Utility of Alfalfa in Agroecosystems

Location: Plant Science Research

Title: Foliar fungi-imposed costs to plant productivity moderate shifts in composition of the rhizosphere microbiome

Author
item LANE, BRETT - University Of Minnesota
item KUHS, MOLLY - University Of Minnesota
item ZARET, MAX - University Of Minnesota
item SONG, ZEWEI - University Of Minnesota
item BORER, ELIZABETH - University Of Minnesota
item SEABLOOM, ERIC - University Of Minnesota
item Schlatter, Daniel
item KINKEL, LINDA - University Of Minnesota

Submitted to: Frontiers in Plant Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/17/2025
Publication Date: 3/5/2025
Citation: Lane, B.R., Kuhs, M.A., Zaret, M.M., Song, Z., Borer, E.T., Seabloom, E.W., Schlatter, D.C., Kinkel, L.L. 2025. Foliar fungi-imposed costs to plant productivity moderate shifts in composition of the rhizosphere microbiome. Frontiers in Plant Science. 16. Article 1558191. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1558191.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1558191

Interpretive Summary: Both foliar and root-associated microbial communities are dependent on plant-derived resources. However, plant-mediated linkages between foliar and below-ground communities are poorly understood. Experiments were performed to test the hypothesis that foliar fungicide mediated increases in plant productivity are associated with compositional changes in rhizosphere communities. Although foliar fungicides did not alter rhizosphere microbial diversity, root biomass, or seed production, the composition of rhizoshere microbial communities differed between fungicide treatments. Moreover, the magnitude of rhizosphere community shifts was related to changes in above-ground seasonal productivity. This work indicates that foliar and rhizosphere communities are linked, likely through impacts on plant rhizodeposition.

Technical Abstract: Plants in grasslands are navigating a complex landscape of interactions including growth and access to resources and defense against pathogens. Foliar fungi can suppress plant growth but may also alter plant investments in soil microbes via rhizodeposition, such as root exudates. Using a 6-year foliar fungicide study in plots planted with 16 species of native prairie plants, we asked whether foliar fungi influence the rhizosphere microbial community composition of a common prairie grass (Andropogon gerardii) and a common legume (Lespediza capatita). We found that foliar fungicide did not alter rhizosphere microbial diversity, root biomass, or seed production. However, the rhizosphere microbial community composition differed between the two focal plant species and in response to six years of chronic foliar fungicide treatment. The magnitude of change in aboveground season-long plant production was strongly associated with the magnitude of change in the rhizosphere microbial community. These results point to important coupling between foliar fungal and plant investment in rhizodeposition to modify the local soil microbial community.