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Decomposition of tobacco roots with modified phenylpropanoid content by fungi with contrasting lignocellulose degradation strategies

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Abstract

The decomposition of tobacco roots with genetic modifications to lignin biosynthesis by the ligninolytic fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, by the cellulolytic fungus Chaetomium globosum, and by microbial communities in soil were examined to determine whether the rates of decomposition of the modified and unmodified roots decomposed at different rates, whether the order of colonization by P. chrysosporium and C. globosum facilitated decomposition, and whether the microbial community in soil was conditioned by exposure to roots subsequently so that the subsequent decomposition of the roots was increased. Both P. chrysosporium and C. globosum decomposed the modified roots more rapidly, at least initially, than the unmodified roots. Colonization by P. chrysosporium facilitated the subsequent decomposition by C. globosum, presumably because by degrading lignin, P. chrysosporium increased the susceptibility of the polysaccharide component of root material to attack by C. globosum. Selection of the soil microbial community by exposure to the modified residues accelerated subsequent decomposition of the root modified. Although demonstrating effects of the lignin modification on decomposition, they are relatively subtle and in most cases short-lived (less than 40 days) ones to which the microbial community is able to adapt, and therefore, we conclude that there are unlikely to be any persistent effects of the modified lignin on the soil decomposer community.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council for financial support under the Biological Interactions in the Root Environment programme. We thank Simon Thain, University of Dundee for the collaboration and Jess Searle for the technical assistance.

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Author notes

  1. E. L. Tilston

    Present address: Crop and Soil Systems, SAC (Scottish Agricultural College), West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, Scotland, UK

  2. D. W. Hopkins

    Present address: School of Life Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK

    E. L. Tilston & D. W. Hopkins

  2. Division of Plant Sciences, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee at the James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, Scotland, UK

    C. Halpin

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  1. E. L. Tilston
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Correspondence to D. W. Hopkins.

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Tilston, E.L., Halpin, C. & Hopkins, D.W. Decomposition of tobacco roots with modified phenylpropanoid content by fungi with contrasting lignocellulose degradation strategies. Biol Fertil Soils 49, 305–311 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-012-0720-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-012-0720-3

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