" Bacteria,Archea,Fungi in soil "

-Name: Ghada saeed snosy abdellah.

-Course: Environmental and soil
Microbiology,BOT ( 632 ).
-Level: Pre-master degree in
microbiology. 2023-2024.

Under supervision/ Dr.Hoda Hassan

Contents:-
-Definition and types of soil
bacteria.
- Number and where soil
bacteria found.
- Importance of bacteria in soil.
- The Rhizosphere.
- Types and definition of fungi in
soil.
-How many fungi are in soil.
-The main role of fungi in the
soil.
- Mycorrhizal fungi interaction
with plants.
- Definition and number of
Archea in soil.
-Types of Archea in soil.
-Importance of Archea in soil.
- References.
 Bacteria
Definition and types of soil
bacteria?
-Bacteria are small single-celled
organisms.
- Bacteria are found almost everywhere
on Earth and are vital to the planet's
ecosystems.
-Some species can live under extreme
conditions of temperature and pressure.
The human body is full of bacteria, and in
fact is estimated to contain more bacterial
cells than human cells.
Types of bacteria found in soil?
-(Decomposers, mutualists,lithotrophs,pathogens) -
1 -Decomposer bacteria:-
- consume simple sugars and simple carbon -
compounds to give nutrients to the soil.
- Also,decompose pollutants and pesticides. -
2- mutualistic bacteria:- -
- form partnerships with plants including the -
nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Rhizobia).
3- Bacteria can also become pathogens to plants. -
4- lithotrophic bacteria:- -
- convert nitrogen, sulfur, or other nutrients for -
energy and are important in nitrogen cycling and
pollution degradation.

Number and where soil bacteria found ?

-In a single gram of soil, there can be billions of
bacteria. There are an estimated 60,000 different
bacteria species
-The bacterial diversity was strongly related to soil pH,
with higher diversity in neutral samples and lower in
acidic samples
-Most live in the top 10cm of soil where organic
matter is present

Importance of bacteria in soil?

1- recycling nutrients and water of the soil.
2- Soil bacteria form microaggregates in the soil by
binding soil particles together with their secretions.
These microaggregates improving soil structure
so,increases water infiltration and increases water
holding capacity of the soil.
3- Bacteria increase soil fertility through nutrient
recycling such as carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and
phosphorus. Bacteria also help in the
decomposition of dead organic matter and then
give out simple compounds in the soil, which can
be used up by plants.
4- Certain bacteria such as rhizobium help in fixing
atmospheric nitrogen into the soil, thus, improving
the fertility of the soil.

The Rhizosphere.

What is the rhizosphere?

-The rhizosphere is the zone of soil surrounding a

plant root where the biology and chemistry of the
soil are influenced by the root.
- This zone is about 1 mm wide, but has no distinct
edge.
- Rather, it is an area of intense biological and
chemical activity influenced by compounds exuded
by the root, and by microorganisms feeding on the
compounds.
What do living organisms do in the
rhizosphere?
- The rhizosphere is a centre of intense biological
activity due to the food supply provided by the root
exudates.
-Bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, protozoa, slime
moulds, algae, nematodes, enchytraeid worms,
earthworms, millipedes, centipedes, insects, mites,
snails, small animals and soil viruses compete
constantly for water, food and space.
- Soil chemistry and pH can influence the species
mix and functions of microbes in the rhizosphere.

What do the roots do in the rhizosphere?

-The roots exude water and compounds broadly

known as exudates.
-Root exudates include amino acids, organic acids,
carbohydrates, sugars, vitamins, mucilage and
proteins.
- The exudates act as messengers that stimulate
biological and physical interactions between roots
and soil organisms.
- They modify the biochemical and physical
properties of the rhizosphere and contribute to
root growth and plant survival.
-However, the fate of the exudates in the
rhizosphere and the nature of their reactions in the
soil remain poorly understood.
The exudates have several functions:-
-Defend the rhizosphere and root against pathogenic
microorganisms.
-Attract and repel particular microbe species and
populations.
-Keep the soil around the roots moist.
-Obtain nutrients.
Mycorrhizospheric zone, which is the plant root that
forms relationship with fungi.
 Fungi

Types and definition of fungi in soil:-

-There are four major groups of soil fungus: Zygomycota,
Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Deuteromycota.
-Soil fungi are microscopic plant-like cells that grow in
long threadlike structures or hyphae that make a mass
called mycelium.

How many fungi are in soil?

-There are approximately 75,000 distinct species.

The main role of fungi in the soil is :-

1- Maintains fertility of the soil, particularly in the
tropical soil.
2- Serves as a cementing agency by binding to
particles of the soil, thereby decreasing the levels
of soil erosion.
3- Releases a large amount of oxygen in the soil
through photosynthesis, promoting submerged
aeration.
4- Assists in increasing water retention capacity of soil
for long.
5- Assists in weathering of rocks.

Mycorrhizal fungi interaction with

plants:-

What are Mycorrhizae?

-The word mycorrhizae comes from two Greek

words, mycos, which means fungus, and rhiza,
which means root; therefore, mycorrhizae literally
means “fungus root.”
- The term mycorrhizae is often used as if referring
to a type of fungi, but the term actually refers to
the relationship between the fungi and the host
plant’s roots.
There are two main types of mycorrhizal
relationships
ectomycorrhizae and arbuscular mycorrhizae:-

-The ectomycorrhizae (ECM) association:-

 - is specific to roots of trees such as birches,
willows.
- The fungi physically connect with the roots of the
host plant, improving the plant’s ability to take up
water and nutrients.
- They also form a sheath around the root, which
physically protects the root from some types of
disease-causing fungi.
-The arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) relationship or
endomycorrhizae :-
-affects both perennials and annuals.
- The main difference between the AM and ECM
relationship is that the AM relationship does not
create a protective mantle around the root the
way the ECM does.
- Instead, its hyphae enter the plant cells,
producing structures that facilitate water and
nutrient uptake by the plant.
- One way to spread AM fungi is to collect root
tissue and the soil immediately surrounding the
root from a host plant that is known to have the
AM fungi and incorporate it into the soil of the
new plant.

Archea
Definition and number of Archea in soil:-
-Archaea are a group of micro-organisms that are
similar to, but evolutionarily distinct from bacteria.
-Many archaea have been found living in extreme
environments.

-Up to 10% of microbial cells in temperate soils are

likely archaea.
Types of Archea in soil ?
-Euryarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota were the most
commonly found dominant groups ranging from soils to
waters.
Importance of Archea in soil?
-are involved in environmental nutrient cycling in
plant ecosystems:
-Nutrient cycling within the soil environment is mediated by
microbes and their interactions.

1- In the nitrogen cycle: nitrite is produced by archea

then oxidized to nitrate by other classes of microbes
and then is utilized by both microbial consumers
and plants.
 2- In the sulfur cycle: the element is made available to
other microbes when the archeal microbes that
grow in the environment oxidize sulfur compounds
and are released into the environment.
3- Metanogenic archea in the carbon contribute to
decomposition of organic matter by removing
hydrogen

-Plant growth-promoting archaea:

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) promote plant
growth by interacting with plant roots .
There are some studies that archaea are also considered as
plant growth-promoting archaea (PGPA) growth by oxidizing N
into plant-bioavailable forms.

- Archaea are involved in enhancing abiotic and

biotic stress resistance:
Archaea can live in environments with extreme conditions, such
as extremes of temperatures, salinity or pH.

-Colonization and role of plant-associated archaea

in the seeds:
-Archaea have a variety of properties that benefit the host plant
and may support the plant progeny.
-In tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), beneficial bacteria are
actively transmitted by the plant to the next generation via the
seeds.
References:
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 Questions :-

1- Describe the Rhizosphere and the living

organisms found in it?
2- How archea participate in
environmental nutrient cycling?
3- What are mycorrhizae ?
4- What is the meaning of PGPA ?
5- What is the importance of the following (
Fungi, Bacteria, Archea ) in the soil?
6- What’s the function of exudates produced
by the roots in the rhizosphere region?

Complete the following statements:-

1- Number of bacteria in soil is …………….. while
Number of Fungi is ………… and Number of
Archea is ………… .
2-Definition of Archea is
…………………………………….while Definition of
fungi is …………. .
3- Nutrient cycling within the soil environment is
mediated by ………… and ………. .
4- The Two types of Mycorrhizal relationships
are …………….and ………… .
5- Mycorrhizospheric zone is
…………………………………….
6- …………………. In the carbon Cycle
contribute to decomposition of organic
matter by removing hydrogen.

True or false :-
1- ( AM ) is refered to ectomycorrhizae
relationship ( ).
2- Fungi constitue only 60,000 distinct
species ( ).
3- Archea can’t live in harsh
environments ( ).
4- Fungi are a group of micro-organisms
that are similar to, but evolutionarily
distinct from bacteria ( ).
5- The Rhizosphere zone is about 2mm
wide ( ).