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To adapt to climate change, several agricultural strategies are currently being explored, including a shift in land use areas. Regional differences in microbiome composition and associated phytopathogens need to be considered. However, most empirical studies on differences in the crop microbiome focused on soil communities, with insufficient attention to the phyllosphere. In this study, we focused on wheat ears in three regions in northeastern Germany (Magdeburger Börde (MBB), Müncheberger Sander (MSA), Uckermärkisches Hügelland (UKH)) with different yield potentials, soil, and climatic conditions. To gain insight into the fungal community at different sites, we used a metabarcoding approach (ITS-NGS). Further, we examined the diversity and abundance of Fusarium and Alternaria using culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques. For each region, the prevalence of different orders rich in phytopathogenic fungi was determined: Sporidiobolales in MBB, Capnodiales and Pleosporales in MSA, and Hypocreales in UKH were identified as taxonomic biomarkers. Additionally, F. graminearum was found predominantly in UKH, whereas F. poae was more abundant in the other two regions. Environmental filters seem to be strong drivers of these differences, but we also discuss the possible effects of dispersal and interaction filters. Our results can guide shifting cultivation regions to be selected in the future concerning their phytopathogenic infection potential., Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Peer Reviewed

Kettle holes are able to increase the soil and air humidity around them. Therefore, they create a perfect habitat for phytopathogenic fungi of the genera Fusarium and Alternaria to develop, sporulate, and immigrate into neighboring agricultural fields. In our study, we establish transects from the edges of different kettle holes and field edges up to 50 m into the fields to analyze the abundance and diversity of pathogenic fungi in these transition zones by culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. However, in 2019 and 2020, low precipitation and higher temperatures compared to the long-time average were measured, which led to limited infections of weeds in the transition zones with Fusarium and Alternaria. Therefore, the hypothesized significantly higher infection of wheat plants next to the kettle holes by a strong spread of fungal spores was not detected. Infestation patterns of Fusarium and Alternaria fungi on weeds and wheat ears were spatially different. In total, 9 different Fusarium species were found in the transition zone. The species diversity at kettle holes differed from 0 to 6 species. The trend toward increased dryness in the northeast German agricultural landscape and its impact on the changing severity of fungal infections is discussed., Brandenburgian Ministry of Science, Research and Culture (MWFK), German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Peer Reviewed

Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, natürliche Rohstoffe als potentielle Bodenverbesserungsmittel zu identifizieren und zu charakterisieren. Es sollte deren Eignung überprüft werden, ein sandiges Substrat in seinen chemischen, physikalischen und biologischen Eigenschaften messbar zu beeinflussen. Anhand von Versuchsreihen im Gewächshaus und im Freiland ist die differenzierte Wirkung der Rohstoffe auf Mais und Weizen getestet worden. Aufgrund einer Literaturrecherche wurden Rohwolle, Schafwollpellets und Biertreber betrachtet. Es zeigte sich für Biertreber, dass dieser große Mengen an Stickstoff (Nt=3,95%; C/N=12,74) bereitstellen kann. Zudem enthält er vergleichsweise viel Phosphor und Magnesium (8,68 g kg-1 und 4,05 g kg-1) aber nur geringe Mengen an Kalium (1,40 g kg-1). Weiterhin lässt sich bei Aufwandmengen von 0,5 M.-% eine kurzfristige Verbesserung der Wasserspeicherfähigkeit sandiger Substrate feststellen. Rohwolle weist im Vergleich zu Biertreber mit Nt=13,56% höhere Mengen an Stickstoff auf. Weiterhin lassen sich mit 35,41 g kg-1 höhere Mengen an Kalium aber mit nur 0,23 g kg-1 bzw. 0,34 g kg-1 geringere Mengen an Magnesium und Phosphor feststellen. Die Mineralisierung der Rohwolle erfolgt im Vergleich zu Biertreber langsam, sodass die enthaltenen Nährstoffe nur langsam pflanzenverfügbar werden. Rohwolle weist zunächst einen stark hydrophoben Charakter auf. Mit zunehmendem Abbau des Lanolins führen Aufwandmengen von 0,1 M.-% zu einer messbaren Erhöhung der Wasserspeicherfähigkeit des sandigen Substrates. Pflanzenverfügbare Nährstoffe stehen bei den industriell aufbereiteten Schafwollpellets im Vergleich zu reiner Rohwolle schneller zur Verfügung. Ähnlich wie bei der Rohwolle werden auch durch Schafwollpellets langfristig Nährstoffe freigesetzt und die Beeinflussung der bodenphysikalischen Parameter ist über längere Zeiträume nachweisbar. Allerdings müssen Aufwandmengen von 0,5 M.-% erbracht werden., The aim of the study was to identify and characterize natural raw materials as a potential soil improver. The capacity for measurable influence on the chemical, physical and biological properties of sandy substratum was investigated. The differentiated affect of the raw materials has been tested for maize and wheat using test series in a greenhouse as well as in open fields. Raw wool, sheep wool pellets and spent grains were considered based on comprehensive literature research. It was observed that spent grains can provide large amounts of nitrogen (N=3.95\%; C/N=12.74). Moreover, it contains relatively high levels of phosphorus and magnesium (8.68 g kg-1 and 4.05 g/kg, respectively), but only small amounts of potassium (1.40 g/kg). Furthermore, a short-term improvement of the water storage capacity of sandy substratum using a application rate of 0.5 M.-\% was observed. Raw wool has higher amounts of nitrogen with Nt=13.56\% compared to spent grains. Moreover, higher levels of potassium with a value of 35.41 g/kg were observed, but spent grains have lower levels of magnesia and phosphor with values of 0.23 g/kg and 0.34 g/kg, respectively. The mineralization of the raw wool occurs slowly compared to (malt) spent grains, such that nutrients are slowly available to plants. Initially, raw wool has a highly hydrophobic character with increasing depletion of Lanolin a measurable improvement of the water storage capacity of sandy substratum using an application rate of 0.1 M.-\% was observed. Nutrients available to plants are provided quicker by industrially remanufactured sheep wool pellets in comparison to raw wool. Nutrients are released on a long-term basis by sheep wool pellets similar to the raw wool and the influence on the soil-physical properties are verifiable for longer periods of time. However, an application rate of 0.5 M.-\% is necessary.