16S amplicon sequencing of bulk and rhizosphere soil samples collected from citrus and guava seedlings
This study generated 16S rRNA amplicon sequences from bulk and rhizosphere soils collected from citrus (Citrus sinensis) and guava (Psidium guajava) seedlings. Samples were taken one month (June 27, 2022) and five months (September 26, 2022) after transplanting seedlings into soils with a 4 year history of cover crop (CC) cultivation or into soils from grower standard control treatments obtained from a commercial citrus grove in Collier County, Florida.Cover crops in commercial citrus orchards are typically planted in row middles rather than directly adjacent to trees, making it difficult to determine whether CC driven changes in bulk soil microbial communities influence the rhizosphere and tree health. To address this knowledge gap, a controlled greenhouse experiment was conducted using citrus and guava seedlings grown in soils with and without CC legacy effects. Bulk and rhizosphere soils were sampled at two timepoints to characterize bacterial diversity and community composition. The study aims to evaluate how long term CC cultivation shapes soil and rhizosphere microbiomes in subtropical tree systems and to assess the relevance of CC legacy effects for nutrient cycling, plant microbe interactions, and soil health in sandy subtropical agroecosystems.