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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Davis, California » Crops Pathology and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #328092
Title: Vineyard soil bacterial diversity and composition revealed by 16S rRNA genes: Differentiation by vineyard management

Author
item BURNS, KAYLA - University Of California
item BOKULICH, NICHOLAS - University Of California
item CANTU, DARIO - University Of California
item GREENHUT, RACHEL - University Of California
item Kluepfel, Daniel
item O'GEEN, ANTHONY - University Of California
item STRAUSS, SARAH - University Of California
item Steenwerth, Kerri

Submitted to: Soil Biology and Biochemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/13/2016
Publication Date: 12/31/2016
Citation: Burns, K.N., Bokulich, N.A., Cantu, D., Greenhut, R.F., Kluepfel, D.A., O'Geen, A.T., Strauss, S.L., Steenwerth, K.L. 2016. Vineyard soil bacterial diversity and composition revealed by 16S rRNA genes: Differentiation by vineyard management. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 103:337-348. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.09.007.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Here, we demonstrate how vineyard management practices influence shifts in soil resources, which in turn affects shifts in soil-borne bacterial communities. The objective is to determine the hierarchical effects of management practices, soil attributes and location factors on the structure of soil-borne bacterial communities. By determining the hierarchy of management practices that exhibit the greatest control over soil-borne microorganisms, we forge the next step in being able to exploit beneficial interactions among vineyard microbial communities to bolster the resilience of the production system to pests, modify grapevine performance and enhance wine properties. In wine grape vineyards in Napa Valley, California, we measured differences in the soil bacterial and archaeal community composition and diversity by sequencing the fourth variable region of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (16S V4 rDNA). Soil bacterial communities were structured with respect to management practices, specifically cover crop presence and cover crop mix; tillage; and agricultural system designation, i.e. conventional, organic and biodynamic production systems. Distinctions with respect to management were associated with differences in soil resource pools, or total carbon and total nitrogen of the <53 and 53-250 um soil fractions, potentially mineralizable nitrogen and pH. Findings in this study suggest management practices in vineyard production systems directly influence the soil-borne microbial community structure, as mediated by shifts in soil resource pools. However, hierarchical effects occur in which ß-diversity is more strongly affected by specific management practices, such as within certain soil types, till or no-till soils or winegrowing region. Patterns in soil microbial community structure in response to tillage frequency also provide support for the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, in which soils that were tilled, but not recently, a diversity and richness greater than that of no-till and recently-tilled soils. This work allows for subsequent assessments of interrelationships of vineyard management, microbial biodiversity and their combined influence on soil quality and health, vine health, and berry quality.