Costa Ohana Y A, Raaijmakers Jos M, Kuramae Eiko E
Department of Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, Netherlands.
Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.
Front Microbiol. 2018 Jul 23;9:1636. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01636. eCollection 2018.
A wide range of microorganisms produce extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), highly hydrated polymers that are mainly composed of polysaccharides, proteins, and DNA. EPS are fundamental for microbial life and provide an ideal environment for chemical reactions, nutrient entrapment, and protection against environmental stresses such as salinity and drought. Microbial EPS can enhance the aggregation of soil particles and benefit plants by maintaining the moisture of the environment and trapping nutrients. In addition, EPS have unique characteristics, such as biocompatibility, gelling, and thickening capabilities, with industrial applications. However, despite decades of research on the industrial potential of EPS, only a few polymers are widely used in different areas, especially in agriculture. This review provides an overview of current knowledge on the ecological functions of microbial EPSs and their application in agricultural soils to improve soil particle aggregation, an important factor for soil structure, health, and fertility.
多种微生物会产生细胞外聚合物（EPS），这是一种高度水合的聚合物，主要由多糖、蛋白质和DNA组成。EPS对微生物生命至关重要，为化学反应、养分截留以及抵御盐度和干旱等环境压力提供了理想的环境。微生物EPS可以增强土壤颗粒的聚集，并通过保持环境湿度和截留养分来使植物受益。此外，EPS具有生物相容性、胶凝和增稠能力等独特特性，具有工业应用价值。然而，尽管对EPS的工业潜力进行了数十年的研究，但只有少数聚合物在不同领域得到广泛应用，尤其是在农业领域。本综述概述了关于微生物EPS生态功能的现有知识及其在农业土壤中的应用，以改善土壤颗粒聚集，这是影响土壤结构、健康和肥力的一个重要因素。
