P-322 - Carbon-Based Soil Amendments and Mature Microbiome Transplants Reshape Microbial Communities, Enhance Soil Health and Citrus Seedling Resilience.

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM HST

Location: Exhibit Hall 3

Presenting Author(s)

DP

Deborah Pagliaccia, PhD (she/her/hers)

Professional Researcher
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA, USA

Author(s)

MC

Mario Cuaya

University of California, Riverside
Riverside, California, United States
BM

Benjamin Maki

University of California, Riverside
Riverside, California, United States
MO

Michelle Ortiz

University of California, Riverside
Riverside, California, United States
BP

Beth Peacock

University of California, Riverside
Riverside, California, United States
SB

Sohrab Bodaghi

University of California, Riverside
Riverside, California, United States
AM

Arunabha Mitra, PhD (he/him/his)

Postdoctoral Scholar
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, California, United States
MA

Madison Amador

University of California, Riverside
Riverside, California, United States
GV

German Villalba-Salazar

University of California, Riverside
Riverside, California, United States
DG

Daniel Gonzales

University of California, Riverside
Riverside, California, United States
SY

Samantha Ying

University of California, Riverside
Riverside, California, United States
GV

Georgios Vidalakis

University of California, Riverside
Riverside, California, United States
JB

James Borneman

University of California, Riverside
Riverside, California, United States

Abstract Text: Organic amendments enhance microbial activity, improve soil health and plant disease management. However, their impacts on microbial communities in citrus nurseries remain understudied. We investigated biochar, food waste Bokashi Digestates (BD), and mature microbiome transplants on soil carbon-nitrogen (C-N) dynamics, microbial diversity, and citrus seedling vigor. Greenhouse trials were conducted over six months using two popular citrus rootstocks grown in a potting mix amended with biochar (10%), BD (0.5%), or both, with and without microbiome transplants. Assessments of total organic C and N, water-extractable nutrients, soil elemental composition, and microbial communities characterized shifts in soil microbial composition and pathogen suppressiveness. Biochar increased C storage and water retention, while BD sustained higher N levels and higher labile C and supported beneficial microbes. Microbiome transplants enriched bacterial and fungal taxa linked to pathogen inhibition, improving seedling vigor. Combined treatments enhanced root and shoot biomass, supporting seedling establishment and resilience. Sequencing of 16S rRNA and ITS genes revealed distinct microbial communities across treatments, shaped by amendment type. These findings highlight the potential of biochar, BD, and microbiome transplants as sustainable tools for citrus nurseries, enhancing plant resilience and soil health while reducing synthetic inputs. By leveraging soil microbiomes and nutrient dynamics, this study offers a framework for managing citrus soilborne diseases through organic amendments.