Forest Canopy Precipitation Partitioning: An Important Plant Trait Influencing the Spatial Structure of the Symbiotic Soil Microbial Community

Carl L. Rosier, Leslie Dean Moore, Tiehang Wu, John T. Van Stan

Research output: Contribution to book or proceedingConference articlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Diversity and structure of the symbiotic soil microbial community significantly influences essential soil ecosystem services including nutrient cycling, C-mineralization and stabilization/formation of soil structure. The overall structure and function of the symbiotic microbial community can also impact trees' ability to acquire nutrients, potentially influencing its overall fitness. Interestingly, factors affecting below-ground signalling pathways between tree hosts and their symbiotic microbes (e.g. soil moisture and chemistry) can be altered by the tree's canopy structure partitioning precipitation. In fact, canopy precipitation partitioning produces persistent patterns in the receipt of meteoric water (and the solutes it carries) to soils via two pathways: throughfall (drips from canopy surfaces) and stemflow (the funnelling of droplets to an infiltration area around the trunk). If these above-ground, tree-directed mechanisms (throughfall and. stemflow) altered edaphic conditions in the active zone surrounding the roots, it may be possible for canopy-derived hydrologic fluxes to influence host-symbiont signalling communication. In this chapter, we discuss and evaluate past research that indicates canopy precipitation partitioning may alter how microbial symbionts (specifically N-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi) interact with tree roots by changing soil characteristics (pH, micro-macronutrient status and concentration of allelopathic compounds). The potential for throughfall and stemflow to influence tree-symbiotic microbe communication has not been previously explored, but past literature indicate it could significantly alter the profile, and perhaps even the function, of root microbial symbiont communities. Our literature synthesis and evaluation concludes with suggested directions for future efforts to evaluate the existence (and extent of biogeochemical implications) of this process.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPlant Microbe Interactions, 2015
EditorsJanine Sherrier, Harsh Bais
PublisherAcademic Press Inc.
Pages215-240
Number of pages26
ISBN (Print)9780124201163
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015

Publication series

NameAdvances in Botanical Research
Volume75
ISSN (Print)0065-2296

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Plant Science

Keywords

  • Host root signalling
  • Mycorrhiza
  • N-fixing bacteria
  • Stemflow
  • Throughfall

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Forest Canopy Precipitation Partitioning: An Important Plant Trait Influencing the Spatial Structure of the Symbiotic Soil Microbial Community'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this