Rhizosphere hotspots: Root hairs and warming control microbial efficiency, carbon utilization and energy production

摘要

Root hairs proliferation and warming strongly influence exudate release, enzyme activities and microbial substrate utilization. However, how the presence of root hairs regulates those processes in the rhizosphere under elevated temperature is poorly known. To clarify these interactions, a wild type maize (with root hairs) and its hairless mutant were grown for 3 weeks at 20 and 30 degrees C, respectively. We combined zymography (localize hotspots of beta-glucosidase) with substrate-induced respiration and microcalorimetry to monitor exudate effects on enzyme kinetics, microbial growth and heat production in the rhizosphere hotspots in response to warming.