Succession of the Resident Soil Microbial Community in Response to Periodic Inoculations
Zhikang Wang, Ziyun Chen, George A. Kowalchuk, Ziheng Xu, Xiangxiang Fu, Eiko E. Kuramae
Abstract
Introducing beneficial microbes to the plant-soil system is an environmentally friendly approach to improve the crop yield and soil environment. Numerous studies have attempted to reveal the impacts of inoculation on the rhizosphere microbiome. However, little is known about the effectiveness of periodic inoculations on soil functioning. In addition, the long-term impact of repeated inoculations on the native community remains unclear. Here, we track the succession traits of the resident microbiome in the bulk soil across a growing season and identify the taxon clusters that respond differently to periodic inoculation. Crucially, we compare the development of the resident community composition with and without inoculation, thus providing new insight into the interactions between resident microbes and intruders. Finally, we conclude that initial inoculation plays a more important role in influencing the whole system, and the native microbial community exhibits traits of resilience, but no resistance, to the subsequent inoculations.