Phenolic acid-degrading Paraburkholderia prime decomposition in forest soil

Plant-derived phenolic acids are catabolized by soil microorganisms whose activity may enhance the decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC). We characterized whether phenolic acid-degrading bacteria enhance SOC mineralization in forest soils when primed with 13 C-labeled p -hydroxybenzoic acid ( p HB). We further tested whether p HB-induced priming could explain differences in SOC content among mono-specific tree plantations in a 70-year-old common garden experiment. p HB addition primed significant losses of SOC (3–13 µmols C g −1 dry wt soil over 7 days) compared to glucose, which reduced mineralization (-3 to -8 µmols C g −1 dry wt soil over 7 days). The principal degraders of p HB were Paraburkholderia and Caballeronia in all plantations regardless of tree species or soil type, with one predominant phylotype (RP11 ASV ) enriched 23-fold following peak p HB respiration. We isolated and confirmed the phenolic degrading activity of a strain matching this phylotype (RP11 T ), which encoded numerous oxidative enzymes, including secretion signal-bearing laccase, Dyp-type peroxidase and aryl-alcohol oxidase. Increased relative abundance of RP11 ASV corresponded with higher p HB respiration and expression of p HB monooxygenase ( pobA ), which was inversely proportional to SOC content among plantations. pobA expression proved a responsive measure of priming activity. We found that stimulating phenolic-acid degrading bacteria can prime decomposition and that this activity, corresponding with differences in tree species, is a potential mechanism in SOC cycling in forests. Overall, this study highlights the ecology and function of Paraburkholderia whose associations with plant roots and capacity to degrade phenolics suggest a role for specialized bacteria in the priming effect.