Effects of Furfural residues on community composition and diversity of rhizosphere microbe of seed production

Abstract The influence of furfural residue on rhizosphere microbiota of corn seed production after long-term cropping were studied by high-throughput sequencing and field plots. The results showed that soil of unplanted, chemical fertilizer (only) application, furfural residue application, and seasonal soil batches recruited distinct rhizosphere microbiota. The microbial community diversity and OTUs increased compared with that of unplanted soil. With exception of Ascomycota, maize plants grown under field conditions were preferentially colonized by Zygomycota in unplanted soil, Mortierellomycota in chemical fertilizer-only soil, while Basidiomycota in frufural residue-treated soil. Potential pathogens as Alternaria, Trichocladium, Bipolaris etc. were not detected, while beneficial microbes as Penicillium, Schizothecium and Rhizophlyctis were presented. Acidobacteria and Bacteroidetes increased, and Actinobacteria and Firmicutes decreased in furfural residue application. The core bacteria after long-term continuous cropping were MND1, RB41, Nitrospira, Cellvibrio, Adhaeribacter etc. The relative abundances of Clostridium, Pseudarthrobacter and Roseiflexus decreased; Haliangium, Nitrospira and MND1 increased; and Pirellula, Ellin6067 and Luteimonas reduced in different seasonal soil batches. Amendment with furfural residue promoted the development of beneficial microbes and decreased the relative abundance of pathogens. Also, the amendment increased cellulose- degrading and complex carbon-decomposing microbes, decreased the number of reductive substance- decomposing microbes, which led to a shift in microbial community structure over time and improved the rhizosphere environment. Furfural residue can be used as a soil amendment to relieve soil-borne diseases and to establish beneficial soil microbes.