Sample interview questions: How do you assess the impact of plant diseases on soil microbial communities or nutrient cycling?
Sample answer:
Assessing the Impact of Plant Diseases on Soil Microbial Communities and Nutrient Cycling
1. Soil Sampling and Metagenomic Analysis:
- Collect soil samples from diseased and healthy plants to compare microbial communities.
- Use metagenomic sequencing to identify and quantify the microbial species present in each sample.
- Analyze the changes in taxonomic composition, diversity, and functional genes associated with plant diseases.
2. Biochemical Soil Analysis:
- Measure soil nutrient concentrations (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) to assess the impact of plant diseases on nutrient cycling.
- Determine soil enzyme activities (e.g., dehydrogenases, phosphatase) to quantify microbial activity and decomposition rates.
- Compare results from diseased and healthy soils to identify disruptions in nutrient cycling processes.
3. Microscopic Observations:
- Examine soil samples under a microscope to observe changes in the morphology and abundance of soil microorganisms.
- Analyze the presence of disease-causing pathogens, antagonistic microorganisms, and other microbial interactions.
- Quantify the extent of soil microbial colonization and its impact on plant health… Read full answer