Microbial Extracellular Polymeric Substances: Ecological Function and Impact on Soil Aggregation

By O. Y. Costa, J. Raaijmakers, E. Kuramae. Frontiers in Microbiology, 2018

1,138 citations recorded by the source corpus.

A wide range of microorganisms produce extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), highly hydrated polymers that are mainly composed of polysaccharides, proteins, and DNA. EPS are fundamental for microbial life and provide an ideal environment for chemical reactions, nutrient entrapment, and protection against environmental stresses such as salinity and drought. Microbial EPS can enhance the aggregation of soil particles and benefit plants by maintaining the moisture of the environment and trapping nutrients. In addition, EPS have unique characteristics, such as biocompatibility, gelling, and thickening capabilities, with industrial applications. However, despite decades of research on the industrial potential of EPS, only a few polymers are widely used in different areas, especially in agriculture. This review provides an overview of current knowledge on the ecological functions of microbial EPSs and their application in agricultural soils to improve soil particle aggregation, an important factor for soil structure, health, and fertility.

Subfields: Biomaterials, Pollution

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/abe86f0c64c37856f5f4183619c689477fc6f82c

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Citations in the corpus

• Understanding bacterial biofilms: From definition to treatment strategies (2023, background): “EPS facilitates intercellular communication, protects cells from chemical damage, provides oxygen diffusion, releases extracellular enzymes for nutrition and, in turn, stimulates the spread of bacteria within the biofilm (Costa et al., 2018; Galdiero et al., 2019).”
• Water Conservation and Plant Survival Strategies of Rhizobacteria under Drought Stress (2020, background): “It allows translocation to reproductive organs and decreases water intake of older and less-productive leaves [190].”
• Microbial extracellular polysaccharide production and aggregate stability controlled by Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) root biomass and soil water potential (2019, background): “Soil aggregate stability controlled by same factors as EPS production The formation of water stable aggregates is considered a positive indicator for both soil health and C sequestration (Costa et al., 2018; Rinot et al., 2019; Six et al., 2000; Six and Paustian, 2014).”
• The interplay between microbial communities and soil properties (2023, neutral): “…EPS production are also candidates for positive microbial niche construction as EPS production can mitigate selective pressures by offering protection against biotic and abiotic stressors such as salinity and drought 57,106,107 , thereby maintaining environmental conditions conducive to growth.”