ABSTRACT
While microorganisms are recognized for driving belowground processes that influence the productivity and fitness of plant populations, the vast majority of bacteria and fungi in soil belong to a seed bank consisting of dormant individuals. Still, plant performance may be affected by microbial dormancy through its effects on the activity, abundance, and diversity of soil microorganisms. To test how microbial seed banks influence plant-soil interactions, we purified recombinant resuscitation promoting factor (Rpf), a bacterial protein that terminates dormancy. Then, in a factorially designed experiment, we applied the Rpf to soil containing field mustard (Brassica rapa), an agronomically important plant species. Plant biomass was ~33 % lower in the Rpf treatment compared to plants grown with an unmanipulated microbial seed bank. In addition, Rpf reduced soil respiration, decreased bacterial abundance, and increased fungal abundance. These effects of Rpf on plant performance were accompanied by shifts in bacterial community composition, which may have diluted mutualists or resuscitated pathogens. Our findings suggest that changes in microbial seed banks may influence the magnitude and direction of plant-soil feedbacks in ways that affect above- and below-ground biodiversity and function.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Footnotes
Reanalyzed bacterial composition data with indicator species analysis. Added additional detail regarding generation and analysis of sequence data. No major changes to finding between original (v1) and revised manuscript (v2)