The role of cyanoprokaryota in the rhizospheres of gypsophytes and effects of drought and water pulses on microbial functionality

Abstract

In a Mediterranean environment plants are subject to water stress and lack of nutrients, among others. The adaptations that they can present are very varied and depend on the type of soil and the climate itself. In gypsiferous soils the adaptations of gypsophytes are numerous and unclear. Cyanoprokaryota had a relevant role in the rhizospheres of gypsophytes in drought conditions. We detect the responses to the availability of water in the rhizospheres of three gypsophytes and in non-rhizospheric soil during a summer drought and during spring. Water retention and water loss were studied. We were obtained the highest values in drought conditions due to the association of Cyanoprokaryota with the rhizospheres. The results are also explained by two water pulses that occurred before the samplings. Several parameters, whose values changed markedly due to the microbiological activation just after the drought and water pulses, are proposed as indicators of this activation: microbial biomass carbon and basal respiration rate, together with urease and protease. However, it was the dehydrogenase activity in spring that best reflected the microbiology associated with the carbon cycle, together with β-glucosidase. The interrelationships between carbon and nitrogen were shown through the indices: water soluble nitrogen and water soluble carbon. We propose three functional adaptation mechanisms of these plants associated with the Cyanoprokaryota in their rhizospheres and related to the water availability as determined by drought and water pulse effects. Financing: This study was funded by the Spanish National Government (CICYTCGL2009-12582-C02-02) and by the Valencian Autonomous Government (AICO/2019/258)