Phenoloxidase and peroxidase activities in Sphagnum-dominated peatland in a warming climate

International audiencePeatlands still suffer from the scarcity of available data about the characterization and the response to climate forcing of the main oxidative enzymes that occur over the seasons. In the present study, phenoloxidase and peroxidase activities were examined in Sphagnum lawns along a narrow fen-bog gradient under experimental elevated temperatures. We showed that peroxidase activities from Sphagnum mosses were 1000-fold higher than those of phenoloxidases irrespective of seasons and sampling areas. Peroxidase activities increased (+30%) with the rise of air temperatures (an average of 1 °C), while warming did not alter phenoloxidase activities. These results suggest that the monitoring of peroxidase activities in peatlands may represent a suitable and forward indicator of the impact of climate warming on carbon cycle in peatlands

Effect of a temperature gradient on Sphagnum fallax and its associated living microbial communities: a study under controlled conditions.

International audienceMicrobial communities living in Sphagnum are known to constitute early indicators of ecosystem disturbances, but little is known about their response (including their trophic relationships) to climate change. A microcosm experiment was designed to test the effects of a temperature gradient (15, 20, and 25°C) on microbial communities including different trophic groups (primary producers, decomposers, and unicellular predators) in Sphagnum segments (0-3 cm and 3-6 cm of the capitulum). Relationships between microbial communities and abiotic factors (pH, conductivity, temperature, and polyphenols) were also studied. The density and the biomass of testate amoebae in Sphagnum upper segments increased and their community structure changed in heated treatments. The biomass of testate amoebae was linked to the biomass of bacteria and to the total biomass of other groups added and, thus, suggests that indirect effects on the food web structure occurred. Redundancy analysis revealed that microbial assemblages differed strongly in Sphagnum upper segments along a temperature gradient in relation to abiotic factors. The sensitivity of these assemblages made them interesting indicators of climate change. Phenolic compounds represented an important explicative factor in microbial assemblages and outlined the potential direct and (or) indirect effects of phenolics on microbial communities

Experimental climate effect on seasonal variability of polyphenol/phenoloxidase interplay along a narrow fen-bog ecological gradient in Sphagnum fallax

International audienceExtracellular phenoloxidase enzymes play an important role in the stability of soil carbon storage by contributing to the cycling of complex recalcitrant phenolic compounds. Climate warming could affect peatland functioning through an alteration of polyphenol/phenoloxidase interplay, which could lead them to becoming weaker sinks of carbon. Here, we assessed the seasonal variability of total phenolics and phenoloxidases subjected to 2-3 °C increase in air temperature using open-top chambers. The measurements were performed along a narrow fen-bog ecological gradient over one growing season. Climate warming had a weak effect on phenoloxidases, but reduced phenolics in both fen and bog areas. Multivariate analyses revealed a split between the areas and also showed that climate warming exacerbated the seasonal variability of polyphenols, culminating in a destabilization of the carbon cycle. A negative relationship between polyphenols and phenoloxidases was recorded in controls and climate treatments suggesting an inhibitory effect of phenolics on phenoloxidases. Any significant decrease of phenolics through repeatedly elevated temperature would greatly impact the ecosystem functioning and carbon cycle through an alteration of the interaction of polyphenols with microbial communities and the production of extracellular enzymes. Our climate treatments did not have the same impact along the fen-bog gradient and suggested that not all the peatland habitats would respond similarly to climate forcing

Devenir des pesticides au sein d’une tourbière en restauration, préalablement cultivée en maïs (projet DynaMOT)

National audienc

Allelopathy and the role of allelochemicals in plant defence

International audienceAllelopathy is described as the interference to plant growth resulting from chemical interactions among plants and other organisms mediated through release of plant-produced bioactive secondary metabolites referred to as allelochemicals. A number of mechanisms have been studied for the release of allelochemicals from various plant tissues including volatilization or leaching from aerial parts, exudation from roots and decomposition of plant residues in soil. Despite differences in biological activity and mode of action, related compounds commonly share similar biosynthetic pathways while some classes of metabolites can be produced using diverse biosynthetic pathways. Recently considerable research has also been undertaken to critically understand the role of allelochemicals in plant succession and plant invasion in native and nonnative ecosystem. In addition, numerous studies have been performed on the selection and utilization of weed suppressive crops and their residues for weed management in sustainable agriculture systems. A better understanding of allelochemical production with respect to plant defence strategies, both physical and chemical, may also allow us to better protect and manage developing crops, limit the spread of invasive weeds, preserve native plant stands and create strategies for allelochemical development and application as novel pesticides. The use of sensitive analytical techniques associated with performance of metabolomics in concert with other omics technologies has led to new advances in the identification of unique allelochemicals, the biosynthetic pathways associated with their production, their complex role(s) in the soil rhizosphere and their production as impacted by a changing climate. Identification of novel plant metabolites, including allelochemicals, may result in a source of biologically based pesticides through the provision of complementary structures for future synthesis and as an aid in the development of new molecular target sites

Sphagnum physiological responses to elevated temperature, nitrogen, CO2 and low moisture in laboratory and in situ microhabitats: a review

International audienceSphagnum mosses are considered peatland engineers because of their ability to create conditions inducing carbon accumulation. Here, we report on a review of the effects of four environmental variables (elevated temperature, N and CO2 and reduced moisture) on the capitulum biomass, length increment, respiration, photosynthetic capability, N and P exchange and content of the 3 most studied Sphagnum subgenera (Acutifolia, Cuspidata, Sphagnum). Overall, we observe that, when compared to in situ experiments, laboratory experiments tend to exacerbate length increments and underestimate maximum photosynthesis in most of the studies inventoried. This review underscores some differences among results that can be associated with the used of different protocols (e.g. exposure time, instrumental analysis). Studies that investigated the impact of elevated temperature (2-5 degrees C) on Sphagnum reveal an increase in length, respiration and photosynthesis regardless of the experimental conditions and subgenus. Elevated N (3-23 g Nm(-2)y(-1)) on the other hand appears to reduce the length increment but had contrasting effects on photosynthesis. Some divergent responses are found with Cuspidata species because of their tolerance to high doses of N. Low moisture reduces the length increment and photosynthesis of species of the Cuspidata and Sphagnum subgenera but has different effects on species of the Acutifolia subgenus, which are relatively tolerant to water fluctuations. Responses to elevated CO2 have no clear trends reported. Allelochemical interactions between Sphagnum, their microbiome or surrounding mosses or other plants were found to be determinant to Sphagnum responses under those variables and reinforce the interest of such investigations

Dynamique des transferts et effets des Micropolluants Organiques persistants dans le fonctionnement d’une Tourbière alcaline en restauration

Titre de l'action : Dynamique des transferts et effets des Micropolluants Organiques persistants dans le fonctionnement d'une Tourbière alcaline en restauration DynaMOT Rapport final 26 septembre 2022 Action n° 58 du Programme 2018 au titre de l'accord-cadre Agence de l'Eau ZAB

Dynamique des transferts et effets des Micropolluants Organiques persistants dans le fonctionnement d’une Tourbière alcaline en restauration

Titre de l'action : Dynamique des transferts et effets des Micropolluants Organiques persistants dans le fonctionnement d'une Tourbière alcaline en restauration DynaMOT Rapport final 26 septembre 2022 Action n° 58 du Programme 2018 au titre de l'accord-cadre Agence de l'Eau ZAB

Experimental climate warming alters the relationship between fungal root symbiosis and Sphagnum litter phenolics in two peatland microhabitats

International audienceBelowground interactions between plants and microorganisms are involved in numerous ecosystems processes such as carbon and nutrient cycling. Understanding their responses to on-going climate warming is thus of paramount importance to better predict future ecosystem functioning. We hypothesized that climate warming alters the interactions between Sphagnum litter phenolics and the fungal root symbiosis of the Ericale plant Andromeda polifolia in a Jura mountain peatland (France). We initiate a climate warming treatment (+1°C) in April 2008 in two microhabitats (lawns and hummocks). We measured polyphenolic contents, mycorrhizal and dark septate endophyte (DSE) root colonization, phenoloxidase and peroxidase activities in the A. polifolia rhizosphere from 2010 to 2012. We found that four years of warming modulated rhizospheric parameters (fungal root symbiosis and enzyme activities) of A. polifolia, but the response differed between microhabitats. Enzyme activities and fungal root colonization displayed different responses to warming according to the microhabitats. DSE root colonization increased and peroxidase activities decreased in warmed Hummocks while they remained stable in warmed lawns. We found a significant positive correlation between DSE root colonization and litter phenolics recovered in both microhabitats but only under in ambient conditions. On the contrary, significant negative correlation was observed between mycorrhizae and litter phenolics recovered in warmed plots while no relationship was found in control plots. Our work thus provides evidences that interplay between phenolics from Sphagnum litter and fungal symbiosis of an Ericale species in peatlands was affected by climate warming. It highlights different plant biological responses to climate warming according to peatland microhabitats and confirm that belowground activities are crucial to understand the response of peatlands to climate change