Bacterial community structure in soil microaggregates and on particulate organic matter fractions located outside or inside soil macroaggregates

Soil aggregates and particulate organic matter (POM) are thought to represent distinct soil microhabitats for microbial communities. This study investigated whether organo-mineral (0–20, 20–50 and 50–200 μm) and POM (two sizes: >200 and 200 μm). The denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles revealed that bacterial communities structure of organo-mineral soil fractions were significantly different in comparison to the unfractionated soil. Conversely, there were little differences in C concentrations, C:N ratios and no differences in DGGE profiles between organo-mineral fractions. Bacterial communities between soil fractions located inside or outside macroaggregates were not significantly different. However, the bacterial communities on POM fractions were significantly different in comparison to organo-mineral soil fractions and unfractionated soil, and also between the 2 sizes of POM. Thus in the studied soil, only POM fractions represented distinct microhabitats for bacterial community, which likely vary with the state of decomposition of the POM

Biofunctool (R) : un outil de terrain pour évaluer la santé des sols, basé sur la mesure de fonctions issues de l'activité des organismes du sol

L'évaluation de la santé des sols devient un enjeu sociétal important, notamment dans le cadre de la transition agroécologique. Cependant, la notion de santé des sols et les moyens pour la mesurer ne font pas consensus au sein de la communauté scientifique. La définition la plus partagée est celle basée sur sa capacité à fonctionner (Karlen et al., 1997) et à fournir des services écosystémiques. Pourtant, les méthodes actuelles sont basées principalement sur des indicateurs de stocks (C, N, biomasse microbienne etc.) et n'intègrent pas, ou très peu, d'indicateurs fonctionnels basés sur le rôle des organismes du sol. Lorsqu'elles existent, les mesures fonctionnelles sont effectuées majoritairement en conditions de laboratoire sur des sols secs et tamisés limitant notre capacité à prendre en compte la réalité de la fonction sur le terrain. Pour pallier ces limites méthodologiques, une nouvelle méthode d'évaluation fonctionnelle de la santé des sols est proposée selon une approche intégrative prenant en compte les liens entre les propriétés physico-chimiques et l'activité biologique des sols. Cette méthode intitulée Biofunctool (R) intègre neuf indicateurs de terrain, rapides et de faibles coûts, permettant d'évaluer trois fonctions principales du sol : la dynamique du carbone, le cycle des nutriments et le maintien de la structure du sol. La capacité de l'ensemble des indicateurs à évaluer l'impact de la gestion des terres sur la santé des sols a été validée sur de nombreux terrains (> 600 points) principalement tropicaux et dans des contextes pédoclimatiques divers. Un index de qualité intégrant les indicateurs a été construit afin de synthétiser l'impact global de la gestion des terres sur la santé du sol. L'objectif est que Biofunctool (R) puisse être utilisé par des utilisateurs non spécialisés. Nous illustrons cette approche par deux exemples de mesure de la santé des sols effectués en milieu tropical (Thaïlande) au sein (i) d'associations culturales (légumineuses, manioc) dans des plantations d'hévéa (Hevea brasiliensis) (ii) de monoculture d'hévéa de différents âges dans divers contextes pédoclimatiques. Les avantages et limites de l'approche sont discutés et des voies d'amélioration de l'outil sont exposées. Biofunctool (R) devrait permettre de mieux appréhender l'impact des pratiques agricoles sur les fonctions du sol associées à la biodiversité et pourrait servir de base pour intégrer la santé des sols dans les analyses environnementales

Characterization of N2O emission and associated bacterial communities from the gut of wood-feeding termite Nasutitermes voeltzkowi

Xylophagous termites rely on nitrogen deficient foodstuff with a low C/N ratio. Most research work has focused on nitrogen fixation in termites highlighting important inflow and assimilation of atmospheric nitrogen into their bodies fundamentally geared up by their intestinal microbial symbionts. Most of termite body nitrogen is of atmospheric origin, and microbially aided nitrification is the principal source of this nitrogen acquisition, but contrarily, the information regarding potent denitrification process is very scarce and poorly known, although the termite gut is considered to carry all favorable criteria necessary for microbial denitrification. Therefore, in this study, it is hypothesized that whether nitrification and denitrification processes coexist in intestinal milieu of xylophagous termites or not, and if yes, then is there any link between the denitrification product, i.e., N2O and nitrogen content of the food substrate, and moreover where these bacterial communities are found along the length of termite gut. To answer these questions, we measured in vivo N2O emission by Nasutitermes voeltzkowi (Nasutitermitinae) maintained on different substrates with varying C/N ratio, and also, molecular techniques were applied to study the diversity (DGGE) and density (qPCR) of bacterial communities in anterior and posterior gut portions. Rersults revealed that xylophagous termites emit feeble amount of N2O and molecular studies confirmed this finding by illustrating the presence of an ample density of N2O-reductase (nosZ) gene in the intestinal tract of these termites. Furthermore, intestinal bacterial communities of these termites were found more dense and diverse in posterior than anterior portion of the gut

Fermentative degradation of 3-hydroxybenzoate in pure culture by a novel strictly anaerobic bacterium, Sporotomaculum hydroxybenzoicum gen. nov., sp. nov.

A strictly anaerobic bacterium, strain BT, from termite hindgut homogenates, was isolated in pure culture and grew on 3-hydroxybenzoate as sole source of carbon and energy. No other substrate tested was degraded, sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, nitrate, ferric ion, oxygen or fumarate were not reduced, and no electron transfer to partner organisms was observed. 3-hydroxybenzoate was fermented to butyrate, acetate and CO2. Benzoate was detected in the culture supernatant as an intermediate. The isolate was a slightly motile, endospore-forming Gram-positive rod ; 16S rDNA sequence analysis revealed a high similarity to member of the genus #Desulfotomaculum$. The G+C content of the DNA was 48 mol$ significantly due to its lack of dissimilatory sulfate reduction, and is therefore described as the type strain of a new genus and species, #Sporotomaculum hydroxybenzoicum$ gen. nov., sp. nov. (Résumé d'auteur

Xylophagous termites : a potential sink for atmospheric nitrous oxide

To provide a better understanding of soil-atmosphere gas exchange processes, this study describes the atmospheric nitrous oxide (N2O) uptake by xylophagous termites and the biological process involved. The N2O consumption rates of three xylophagous termite species (Hodotermes mossambicus, Nasutitermes voeltzkowi and Hodotermopsis sjoestedti) were determined in incubation vials with ambient, artificially enhanced N2O concentrations in the headspace. Live individuals of the three termite species significantly decreased N2O concentrations (88%) in the headspace of the vials after 24 h incubation in the dark. The acetylene reduction assay method applied to N. voeltzkowi, a xylophagous termite species, showed a decrease in N2O uptake in acetylene-treated individuals, indicating the potential involvement of termite gut denitrifying microbes. The N-2 formed is potentially subjected to assimilation via nitrogenase reductase into termite biomass through biological fixation as demonstrated by the reduction of acetylene to ethylene at an average rate of 18.21 +/- 1.34 nmol C2H4 g(-1) dw d(-1). Further studies should focus on measurements of N2O-reductase (nosZ) gene activity in termite guts to gain a better understanding of the N2O reduction process in xylophagous termite species