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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Citrus and Other Subtropical Products Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #338537
Title: Using NMR-based metabolomics to monitor the biochemical composition of agricultural soils: a pilot study

Author
item JOHNS, CHRISTINA - Miami University - Ohio
item LEE, ALEX - Miami University - Ohio
item SPRINGER, TZVIA - Miami University - Ohio
item Rosskopf, Erin
item Hong, Jason
item Turechek, William
item Burelle, Nancy
item FINLEY, NATOSHA - Miami University - Ohio

Submitted to: European Journal of Soil Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/28/2017
Publication Date: 11/10/2017
Citation: Johns, C., Lee, A., Springer, T., Rosskopf, E.N., Hong, J.C., Turechek, W., Burelle, N.K., Finley, N. 2017. Using NMR-based metabolomics to monitor the biochemical composition of agricultural soils: a pilot study. European Journal of Soil Biology. 83:98-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2017.10.008.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2017.10.008

Interpretive Summary: The use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an important tool for analysis of metabolomics in many biological systems. The technique is not commonly used for characterization of the soil metabolome, particularly from agricultural soils. A protocol was established to use NMR for analysis of soils treated using anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) compared to untreated soils from a strawberry production system. Multiple organic acids, which suggest the involvement of key pathways from primary metabolism that are characteristic of fermentative soil microbes, were identified. The techniques used offer a a unique approach to the identification of compounds and organisms important in developing disease-suppressive crop production systems.

Technical Abstract: NMR-based metabolomics plays a major role studying complex living systems. However, very few studies describe the application of this technique to the evaluation of soil metabolome. Here, we introduce a protocol for analyzing the biochemical compounds from agricultural soils where the microbial communities are influenced by the application of anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD). Following ASD treatment, the aqueous metabolites were extracted from soil samples. The compound identities of the resulting mixtures were determined using 1D NMR, 2D NMR, and metabolome databases. ASD treatment altered the metabolite composition of soil as evidenced by the detection of compounds such as lactic acid. Application of this methodology has the potential to impact soil science and crop production.