Yurgel Svetlana N, Ajeethan Nivethika, Ali Shawkat
Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit, USDA, ARS, Prosser, WA, 99350, USA.
Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B2N 5E3, Canada.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 2;15(1):23498. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-05837-w.
Apple replant disease (ARD) describes a phenomenon of reduction of crop productivity in the early years of orchard establishment on sites previously planted with apple. Currently, manipulation of the soil microbiome through (bio)fumigation is the primary approach to alleviate ARD. An alternative approach to combat ARD, could involve adjusting the rootstock microbiome to better cope with biotic stress present in orchard soil. In this study we evaluated differences in microbiome structure and composition between nursery grown rootstock and mature apple trees, cultivated in Nova Scotian orchards. We found that mature apple tree roots associated microbiome dramatically differed in its diversity, structure and composition compared to that associated with saplings. Our research identified several fungal and bacterial taxa as potential candidates for further study in the context of nursery inoculation and their possible role in mitigating ARD in re-planted apple orchards. The results of this study provide a foundation for development of a synthetic community which could be used in nurseries during rootstock propagation to improve saplings adaptation to ARD soils. This approach may offer an ecologically safe and cost-effective alternative to current soil amendments to alleviate ARD consequences.
苹果再植病（ARD）是指在先前种植过苹果的土地上建立果园的最初几年里，作物生产力下降的一种现象。目前，通过（生物）熏蒸来调控土壤微生物群落是缓解苹果再植病的主要方法。另一种对抗苹果再植病的方法可能是调整砧木微生物群落，使其更好地应对果园土壤中存在的生物胁迫。在本研究中，我们评估了新斯科舍省果园中苗圃培育的砧木与成年苹果树之间微生物群落结构和组成的差异。我们发现，与幼树相关的微生物群落相比，成年苹果树根系相关的微生物群落在多样性、结构和组成上有显著差异。我们的研究确定了几种真菌和细菌分类群，作为在苗圃接种背景下进一步研究的潜在候选对象，以及它们在减轻再植苹果园苹果再植病方面可能发挥的作用。本研究结果为合成群落的开发奠定了基础，该合成群落可在砧木繁殖期间用于苗圃，以提高幼树对苹果再植病土壤的适应性。这种方法可能为当前缓解苹果再植病后果的土壤改良措施提供一种生态安全且经济高效的替代方案。
