PLANT&FOREST

Metagenome analysis: organic fruit thinner has impact on microbial community of Ginkgo biloba rhizosphere

Seok Hui Lee1   Jong-Beom  Seo2   Jun Young  Park1   Ah Hyeon Choi1   Dae Sol  Kim1   Do Yeon  Kim1   Su Hong  Jeon1   Hee Min  Lim1   Woo Jin  Park1   Sin Young  Park1   Sang Jun  Park1   Seong-Ho  Kim3   Jae Doo  Jo4   Jae Doo  Jo1,*   

1Department of Forestry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
2Forest Microbiology Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Suwon 16631, Korea
3Jinyangsa Corp., Jeonju 54882, Korea
4Ecofarm Corp., Daegu 41566, Korea

Abstract

Ginkgo biloba is a popular tree species as a roadside tree because of its high resistance to air pollution, high temperature, dryness, and beautiful foliage, but many complaints occur due to the odor and street pollution caused by the maturation of seeds and falling fruits in autumn. To solve this problem, fruit thinning organic chemicals have been injected and sprayed into the rhizosphere of Ginkgo biloba. In this study, to investigate the safety of the chemicals, changes in the microbial community in the rhizosphere were analyzed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology 2 (QIIME2). The results showed that there was no significant difference in the soil chemical changes between the April and August of treated and control groups. In contrast, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in bacteria alpha diversity between the treated group and the untreated group in May. However, the soil quickly recovered to a level where the difference was not significant. With regard to beta diversity, there was a significant difference (p <0.05) between the treated group and the untreated group. Therefore, it is considered that the microbiome was changed by applying organic fruit thinning organic chemicals. The results of this study suggest that soil metagenomic analysis could be used as an indicator of soil health and change.

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1. Relative abundance of five major phylum of bacteria (A), and fungi (B) under control and treated groups (* indicates a significance of p < 0.05, ** indicates a significance of p < 0.01, and *** indicates a signi ficance of p < 0.001 of T-test).