Periphytic Microbial Response to Environmental Phosphate (P) Bioavailability and Its Relevance to P Management in Paddy Fields
Jianchao Zhang, Jing Su, Chao Ma, Xiangyu Hu, H. Henry Teng
Abstract
The ability of periphyton to buffer environmental P in shallow aquatic ecosystems may be a natural lesson on P utilization and retention in paddy fields. This work revealed the routes and tools through which periphytic organisms adapt to and regulate ambient P fluctuation. The mechanistic understanding further implicates that the biofilm may serve rice plants to alleviate P stress. Additional results from extracellular metabolite analyses suggest the dissolved periphytic exometabolome can be a valuable nutrient source for soil microbes and plants to reduce biosynthetic costs. These discoveries have the potential to improve our understanding of biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus in general and to refine P management strategies for rice farms in particular.