Drivers of soil health across European Union - Data from the literature review.

Soil health in Europe has reached a critical point: it is estimated that 60-70% of European soils are unhealthy. Changes in land use, its intensity and the quality of management have significant impacts on soil health and soil related ecosystem services. A systems analysis of soil health dynamics requires an understanding of the drivers inducing changes in land use and management.

The community of root fungi is associated with the growth rate of Norway spruce (Picea abies).

Our study delved into the relationship between root-associated fungi, gene expression and plant morphology in Norway spruce cuttings derived from both slow-and fast-growing trees. We found no clear link between the gene expression patterns of adventitious roots and the growth phenotype, suggesting no fundamental differences in the receptiveness to fungal symbionts between the phenotypes. Interestingly, saplings from slow-growing parental trees exhibited a higher richness of ectomycorrhizal species and larger roots.

Editorial: Theme issue on the ecology of soil microorganisms.

Inoculation of common bean seed with diversified bacterial synthetic communities can induce deep modifications of both seed and seedling microbiota, even in living potting soil.

Diterpenes and triterpenes show potential as biocides against pathogenic fungi and oomycetes: a screening study.

The aim was to screen di- and triterpenes as potential biocides against fungal pathogens (Alternaria sp., Fusarium avenaceum, F. sambucinum, Botrytis cinerea, Botryotina fuckeliana, Mycocentrospora acerina, Cylindrocarpon sp.

Impacts of coniferous bark-derived organic soil amendments on microbial communities in arable soil - a microcosm study.

A decline in the carbon content of agricultural soils has been reported globally. Amendments of forest industry side-streams might counteract this. We tested the effects of industrial conifer bark and its cascade process materials on the soil microbiome under barley (Hordeum vulgare L.