Marginal impact of cropping BADH transgenic maize BZ-136 on chemical property, enzyme activity, and bacterial community diversity of rhizosphere soil

Abstract

Aims

Transgenic betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) maize that overaccumulates glycine betaine (GB) is developed to enhance tolerance to salt stress, while the ecological risk of cropping BADH transgenic maize BZ-136 on soil properties and rhizosphere microorganisms is ambiguous.

Methods

A pot experiment was conducted and soils were sampled at seedling, elongation, flowering, and mature stage. Soil chemical properties and enzyme activities were determined with conventional method and bacterial community diversity of BZ-136 rhizosphere was analyzed by high-throughput sequencing technique as compared with those of parental maize Zheng58 and conventional maize U8112.

Results

Cropping BZ-136 has a transient effect on EC, organic C or total N at some growth stage in neutral and saline-alkaline soil, a significant effect on urease activities from elongation to mature stage in saline-alkaline soil, and a slight influence on bacterial diversity at different stages in neutral soil and a significant impact at seedling stage in saline-alkaline soil.

Conclusion

Cropping BADH transgenic maize has transient or minor effects on soil chemistry, enzyme activity, and bacterial community diversity, while parallel factors, such as plant growth stage and soil type might also influence the rhizosphere microorganisms.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2HtSixg