Soil fungal communities affect the chemical quality of flue-cured tobacco leaves in Bijie, Southwest China

Abstract

Soil microorganisms could affect the quality of tobacco leaves, however, little is known about the association of tobacco chemical components and soil fungal communities. In the present study, the relationship between soil fungi and tobacco quality based on chemical components in Bijie was investigated. The results showed that the total harmony scores (THS) of the analyzed tobacco leaves ranged from 46.55 ± 3.5 to 91.55 ± 2.25. Analyses of chemical components revealed that high contents of nicotine (≥ 1.06%) and sugar (total sugar: ≥ 22.96%, reducing sugar: ≥ 19.62%), as well as low potassium level (≤ 2.68%) were the main factors limiting the quality of flue-cured tobacco leaves. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that soil nitrate, available potassium/phosphorous, and organic matter significantly correlated with tobacco nicotine, potassium, and chloride levels (p < 0.05). Besides, the analysis of alpha- and beta-diversity of soil fungal communities implied that fungal structure rather than the richness affected the chemical quality of tobacco. In detail, the relative abundance of Humicola olivacea species in soils was positively correlated with the THS of tobaccos (r = 0.52, p < 0.05). Moreover, the species including Mortierella alpina, Mortierella hyalina, Tausonia pullulan, and Humicola olivacea were negatively correlated with tobacco sugar (r ≤ − 0.45, p < 0.05) while, Codinaea acaciae and Saitozyma podzolica species were negatively correlated with tobacco nicotine (r ≤ − 0.51, p < 0.05). The present study provides a preliminary basis for utilizing fungal species in soils to improve the chemical quality of tobacco in the studied area.

Features of bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere of Gastrodia elata cultivated in greenhouse for early harvest

“…Trichoderma species are popular biocontrol agents as well as significant growth-promoting orchid plants ( Gutiarrez-Miceli et al, 2008 ; Yuan et al, 2009 ). Saitozyma degrades plant cellulose ( Wang et al, 2022 ). Therefore, our data show that litter-or wood-decaying fungi, such as Mortierella , Chaetomium , Trichoderma , Fusarium , and Saitozyma species, may provide carbon and nutrients to the symbiotic fungi of Gastrodia species.…”

Fungal Inhibition of Agricultural Soil Pathogen Stimulated by Nitrogen-Reducing Fertilization

“…Some research studies paid attention to the effects of the nitrogen-reducing strategy on fungal community of food crops such as wheat, rice, and maize ( Wen et al, 2020 ; Liu et al, 2021 ; Wang et al, 2021 ). Wang et al found that Humicola , Tausonia , and Codinaea could improve the chemical quality of tobacco ( Wang et al, 2022 ). Nevertheless, few had focused on the fungal inhibitory effect of nitrogen-reducing fertilization on tobacco diseases.…”

Differences in soil physicochemical properties and rhizosphere microbial communities of flue-cured tobacco at different transplantation stages and locations

“…Good soil conditions are needed for high-quality tobacco production ( Mallikharjuna Rao et al, 2016 ; Begum et al, 2021 ; Shen et al, 2022 ). To achieve sustainable tobacco production, soil quality must be improved ( Wang et al, 2019 ; Yan et al, 2019 ; Wang et al, 2022 ). However, due to the extensive use of chemical fertilizer and a series of bad farming measures in tobacco planting regions, the soil microbial abundance and diversity have been reduced, leading to soil acidification, hardening, fertility decline and other outstanding problems, which not only seriously affect crop yield but also adversely affect the sustainable development within the ecosystem and the green environment ( Wang Q. et al, 2017 ; Kavamura et al, 2018 ; Li et al, 2019 ).…”