Influence of the herbicide haloxyfop-R-methyl on bacterial diversity in rhizosphere soil of Spartina alterniflora

Haloxyfop-R-methyl (haloxyfop) can efficiently control Spartina alterniflora in coastal ecosystems, but its effect on soil microbial communities is not known. In the present study, the impact of the haloxyfop on rhizosphere soil bacterial communities of S. alterniflora over the dissipation process of the herbicide has been studied in a coastal wetland. The response of the bacterial community in the rhizoplane (iron plaque) of S. alterniflora subjected to haloxyfop treatment was also investigated. Results showed that the persistence of haloxyfop in the rhizosphere soil followed an exponential decay with a half-life of 2.6–4.9 days, and almost all of the haloxyfop dissipated on Day 30. The diversity of rhizosphere soil bacteria was decreased at the early stages (Days 1, 3 & 7) and recovered at late stages (Days 15 & 30) of the haloxyfop treatment. Application of haloxyfop treatment increased the relative abundance of the genera Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Pontibacter, Shewanella and Aeromonas. Strains isolated from these genera can degrade herbicides efficiently, which possibly played a role in the degradation of haloxyfop. The rhizoplane bacterial diversity was reduced on Day 15 while being vastly enhanced on Day 30. Soil variables, including the electric conductivity, redox potential, and soil moisture, along with the soil haloxyfop residue, jointly shape the bacterial community in rhizosphere soil.