The role of plant diversity for the promotion of bacterial communities responsible for soil suppressiveness against phytopathogens

• Applicant: Dr. Alexandre Jousset
• Subject Area: Ecology and Biodiversity of Plants and Ecosystems
• Term: from 2011 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 200925404

Diversity is a major driver of plant productivity in natural ecosystems. Interactions between plants and soil organisms are increasingly recognized as a factor responsible for the higher productivity of diverse plant communities. In a preliminary experiment, we demonstrated that diverse plant communities support higher densities of bacteria antagonistic to fungal pathogens (biocontrol bacteria). In this project we intend to mechanistically understand the effect of plant diversity and plant community structure on soil bacteria responsible for soil suppressiveness, the natural potential of soils to inhibit pathogens. We will use a set of cultivation dependent and independent methods to investigate the effect of plant community structure on the abundance, diversity and activity of biocontrol microbial communities. We will focus on fluorescent pseudomonads, a major and well characterized model group of biocontrol bacteria. Further, we will test if the stimulation of biocontrol bacterial communities at high plant diversity results in increased suppression of plant pathogenic fungi. Results of this study will contribute to explaining the often observed positive diversity-productivity relationship in grasslands, and help implement sustainable agricultural practices by improving pathogen suppression.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: USA
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Nico Eisenhauer