Bacterial Microbiota and Soil Fertility of Crocus sativus L. Rhizosphere in the Presence and Absence of Fusarium spp.

Intensive agricultural practices have led to intense soil degradation and fertility losses. Many soil-borne diseases affect these intensive soils, worsening the physical-chemical imbalances. Among numerous pathogens, genus Fusarium includes members that destroy many crops, including Crocus sativus L., which also impairs composition functions of microbial communities. This work aimed investigate, for first time, bacterial communities rhizosphere saffron in presence absence fusariosis. The fields territory L’Aquila (Italy) with without fusariosis was sampled subjected a microbiological analysis. Culture-dependent methods characterized dehydrogenase activity assay estimated. metabarcoding 16S rRNA gene, metagenome functioning prediction, network analysis were carried out. results showed fusariosis, when it is linked practices, causes alterations rhizosphere. culture-dependent independent approaches shown changes community functional enzymatic samples prevalence uncultured unknown taxa. Most known Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) associated Pseudomonadoa (syn. Proteobacteria) lineage. richness this phylum significantly altered by Fusarium. Moreover, pathogenesis appeared improve ASVs interconnections. modified