Ecology and Diversity of Soil Microbial Communities in an Era of Global Change

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbial Diversity and Culture Collections".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 April 2026 | Viewed by 101

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, INCDO INEO 2000, Cluj Napoca, Romania
Interests: soil microbiome; soil functions; multi-omics

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Guest Editor
Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture & Applied Biology, Cantho University, Cantho City, Vietnam
Interests: soil science; soil microbiology; soil services

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Guest Editor
Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, INCDO INOE 2000, Cluj Napoca, Romania
Interests: microbial lipidomics; volatilomics; metabolomics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil microbial ecology faces critical challenges in our changing world in terms of environmental stresses. The combined pressures of anthropogenic activities (management practices, land-use conversion) and anomalies driven by climate change (extreme events, weather anomalies) could alter soil microbial diversity in several ways. These changes can manifest themselves either through changes in the microbial community structure and abundance or by a loss or alteration of the functionality of microorganisms. These changes affect the biochemical pathways and interactions underlying microbial processes, reducing the resilience of the soil to new disturbances. At the same time, vital soil functions—such as nutrient cycling, the decomposition of organic matter, and water retention—are compromised, jeopardizing ecosystem stability and productivity.

The elucidation of the complex biochemical pathways and interactions underlying microbial processes and microbial ecology and diversity is an immediate need in the current era of global change. In the scientific community investigating the soil microbiome, the question of how changes in microbial diversity and dominance have a direct impact on soil health and functionality under stressed conditions is still a pertinent question. Insights gained from such research interests address the urgent need for integrated management practices and innovative research strategy development to protect soil microbial diversity from current climatic and anthropogenic pressures.

Dr. Emoke Dalma Kovacs
Prof. Dr. Teodor Rusu
Dr. Khoi Nghia Nguyen
Dr. Melinda Haydee Kovacs
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • microbial diversity
  • microbial dominance
  • stress index
  • soil functions
  • land-use
  • climate change
  • multi-omics

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 7598 KiB  
Article
Combined Soil Inoculation with Mycorrhizae and Trichoderma Alleviates Nematode-Induced Decline in Mycorrhizal Diversity
by Fernanda Covacevich, Gabriela Fernandez-Gnecco, Verónica F. Consolo, Pablo L. Burges, Gonzalo F. Calo and Eduardo A. Mondino
Diversity 2025, 17(5), 334; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17050334 - 5 May 2025
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Trichoderma spp. (T) are known as plant-beneficial fungi effective against root-knot nematodes, but their interactions in the rhizosphere are not well understood. This study examined how Meloidogyne javanica influences AMF colonization and community diversity at the root-soil interface [...] Read more.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Trichoderma spp. (T) are known as plant-beneficial fungi effective against root-knot nematodes, but their interactions in the rhizosphere are not well understood. This study examined how Meloidogyne javanica influences AMF colonization and community diversity at the root-soil interface of tomato plants. A 60-day growth chamber experiment was conducted with tomato plants grown in non-sterile agricultural soil, either infected or not with M. javanica, that received a single inoculation with AMF or Trichoderma (strains T363 or TJ15), combined AMF + T inoculations, or no inoculation (Control). Both single and combined inoculations significantly reduced root galls, eggs, and soil nematode larvae. An AMF community analysis via single-strand conformation polymorphism of the D1 region of 28S rDNA gene (Glomeraceae family) revealed that M. javanica decreased AMF diversity and altered community structure, in plants single-inoculated with AMF. However, a combined inoculation with Trichoderma appears to prevent this reduction and maintain AMF diversity. While M. javanica reduced root mycorrhizal colonization, it did not affect Trichoderma abundance. These results suggest that Trichoderma may be more resilient to nematode infection, helping stabilize AMF communities and enhance biocontrol. Thus, combining AMF and Trichoderma inoculations could better preserve root health and improve biological control effectiveness against M. javanica. Full article
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