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Background and aims <p>Forest decline can alter tree health and associated rhizosphere microbiome, potentially influencing plant stress responses. However, the role of soil microbial legacies in plant susceptibility to canker pathogens remains unclear. We used soil transplant to test how contrasting beech rhizosphere microbiomes affect plant performance and responses to pathogens in <i>Fagus sylvatica</i> seedlings.</p> Methods <p>Beech seedlings grown in sterilized soils were amended with rhizosphere inoculum from healthy (soil H) or declining (soil D) beech trees. After five months, seedlings were inoculated with <i>Biscogniauxia nummularia</i>, <i>Neonectria coccinea</i>, or sterile agar. Foliar symptoms, gas exchange, and chlorophyll fluorescence were monitored for 34&#xa0;days. Growth, leaf biomarkers, and soil extracellular enzyme activities were measured at harvest. Microbiome diversity and composition were assessed using 16S rRNA and ITS2 metabarcoding.</p> Results <p>Seedlings grown in soil D showed higher stomatal conductance and tended to maintain higher photosynthetic performance before and shortly after pathogen inoculation. <i>Biscogniauxia</i> inoculation induced stronger physiological and biochemical stress in soil H, including increased transpiration, altered leaf chemistry, and more severe wilting. Enzyme activities showed contrasting responses, increasing in soil H but decreasing in soil D. Microbial diversity and composition also showed contrasting dynamics, with soil D enriched in saprotrophic fungi and bacterial taxa with potential beneficial functions.</p> Conclusion <p>Soil microbial legacies from declining trees reduced the impact of canker pathogens on beech seedlings. These effects were associated with contrasting microbial composition and soil functional responses, highlighting the potential role of decline-associated rhizosphere communities in modulating plant resilience to biotic stress.</p>

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Contrasting rhizosphere microbiomes from healthy and declining trees modulate beech seedling responses to canker pathogens

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月10日

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  • Marta Pastor-García,
  • Gonzalo Monteoliva-García,
  • Juan Piñeiro,
  • Clara Martínez-Arias,
  • Rosana López,
  • Juan Antonio Martín

摘要

Background and aims

Forest decline can alter tree health and associated rhizosphere microbiome, potentially influencing plant stress responses. However, the role of soil microbial legacies in plant susceptibility to canker pathogens remains unclear. We used soil transplant to test how contrasting beech rhizosphere microbiomes affect plant performance and responses to pathogens in Fagus sylvatica seedlings.

Methods

Beech seedlings grown in sterilized soils were amended with rhizosphere inoculum from healthy (soil H) or declining (soil D) beech trees. After five months, seedlings were inoculated with Biscogniauxia nummularia, Neonectria coccinea, or sterile agar. Foliar symptoms, gas exchange, and chlorophyll fluorescence were monitored for 34 days. Growth, leaf biomarkers, and soil extracellular enzyme activities were measured at harvest. Microbiome diversity and composition were assessed using 16S rRNA and ITS2 metabarcoding.

Results

Seedlings grown in soil D showed higher stomatal conductance and tended to maintain higher photosynthetic performance before and shortly after pathogen inoculation. Biscogniauxia inoculation induced stronger physiological and biochemical stress in soil H, including increased transpiration, altered leaf chemistry, and more severe wilting. Enzyme activities showed contrasting responses, increasing in soil H but decreasing in soil D. Microbial diversity and composition also showed contrasting dynamics, with soil D enriched in saprotrophic fungi and bacterial taxa with potential beneficial functions.

Conclusion

Soil microbial legacies from declining trees reduced the impact of canker pathogens on beech seedlings. These effects were associated with contrasting microbial composition and soil functional responses, highlighting the potential role of decline-associated rhizosphere communities in modulating plant resilience to biotic stress.