Archaeal and Fungal participation in the biogeochemical cycling of novel phosphate sources in NI soils

古菌和真菌参与 NI 土壤中新型磷酸盐来源的生物地球化学循环

• 批准号: 2788146
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Queen's University Belfast
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2022 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2788146
• 关键词: Archaeal; Fungal; participation; biogeochemical; cycling

Phosphorus is an essential component of biological systems as it is integral to the phosphate backbone of DNA and the adenosine triphosphate that living cells utilise for energy use and storage. However, it is predominantly supplied to biological systems from phosphate ions via phosphorite weathering. The natural phosphorus cycle happens over geological timescales and can't meet the demand of agriculture. Phosphate rock is therefore mined for fertilizers, with global usage of phosphate fertilizer at 48 million tons in 2020. This reliance on mining, mainly in Morocco and geopolitically sensitive regions, poses a significant risk to global food security as "peak phosphorus" could be reached as early as 2030, when demand exceeds supply. Common fertilizers lead to excess phosphorus in the soil, causing eutrophication and devastating ecological effects. Thus, the development of alternatives to soluble phosphorus fertilizers is crucial.More than 90% of phosphorus in soil is essentially inaccessible as it exists in insoluble forms, especially various insoluble phosphates of calcium, iron, and aluminium. If this insoluble phosphorus could be made available to plants, it would mobilise a vast phosphorus supply without the ecological risks while reducing reliance on commercial fertilizers. Microorganisms are fundamental to all ecological systems due to their central role in the biogeochemical cycling of essential nutrients including carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Phosphate-solubilising microorganisms are those that are capable of solubilising variably insoluble phosphate molecules such as calcium, iron and aluminium phosphates. However, there has been little investigation into the utilisation of recalcitrant phosphate sources. Methylotrophic bacteria capable of utilising highly novel phosphates have recently been identified, but this has yet to be demonstrated in the other domains of life - Archaea and Eukarya.The focus of this research project will therefore be to investigate the utilisation of certain novel phosphates in archaea and fungi.-Isolation of archaeal and fungal species from Northern Irish soils capable of utilising these phosphates.-Genetic and biochemical characterisation of the isolates to investigate the potential mechanisms of phosphate solubilisation and utilisation.-Investigation of methylotrophy in archaea and fungi in Northern Irish agricultural soils.-Characterise relationships between archaeal and fungal populations in Northern Irish agricultural soils with agricultural fertilisation practices and physiochemical data.

磷是生物系统的重要组成部分，因为它是DNA的磷酸盐骨架和活细胞用来使用和储存能量的三磷酸腺苷不可或缺的一部分。然而，它主要是由磷酸盐离子通过磷矿风化提供给生物系统的。自然磷循环发生在地质时间尺度上，不能满足农业生产的需要。因此，磷矿被开采用于化肥，2020年全球磷肥使用量为4800万吨。这种主要在摩洛哥和地缘政治敏感地区对采矿的依赖对全球粮食安全构成重大风险，因为最早可能在2030年达到“峰值磷”，届时供不应求。普通化肥会导致土壤中磷过量，造成富营养化和毁灭性的生态影响。因此，开发可溶性磷肥的替代品是至关重要的。土壤中90%以上的磷基本上是不可获得的，因为它以不溶形式存在，特别是各种不溶的钙、铁和铝的磷酸盐。如果这种不溶性磷能够被植物利用，它将动员大量的磷供应，而不会带来生态风险，同时减少对商业化肥的依赖。微生物是所有生态系统的基础，因为它们在包括碳、氮和磷在内的基本营养物质的生物地球化学循环中发挥核心作用。溶解磷酸盐的微生物是那些能够溶解不同的不溶性磷酸盐分子的微生物，如钙、铁和磷酸铝。然而，很少有人对顽固的磷酸盐来源的利用进行调查。最近发现了能够利用高度新型磷酸盐的甲基营养细菌，但这还没有在生命的其他领域--古生物和真核生物中得到证实。因此，这项研究项目的重点将是研究某些新型磷酸盐在古生菌和真菌中的利用。-从能够利用这些磷酸盐的北爱尔兰土壤中分离古菌和真菌物种。-分离菌株的遗传和生化特征，以研究磷酸盐溶解和利用的潜在机制。-调查北爱尔兰农业土壤中古生菌和真菌的甲基营养状况。-用农业施肥实践和理化数据表征北爱尔兰农业土壤中古生菌和真菌种群之间的关系。