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Soil Chemical Properties Barely Perturb the Abundance of Entomopathogenic Fusarium oxysporum: A Case Study Using a Generalized Linear Mixed Model for Microbial Pathogen Occurrence Count Data

1
CITAB—Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, UTAD, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
2
CEMAT-IST-UL—Centre for Computational and Stochastic Mathematics, University of Lisbon, 1649-004 Lisbon, Portugal
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Pathogens 2018, 7(4), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens7040089
Submission received: 30 September 2018 / Revised: 20 October 2018 / Accepted: 31 October 2018 / Published: 16 November 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fusarium)

Abstract

:
Fusarium oxysporum exhibits insect pathogenicity—however, generalized concerns of releasing phytopathogens within agroecosystems marred its entomopathogenicity-related investigations. In a previous study, soils were sampled from Douro vineyards and adjacent hedgerows. In this study, 80 of those soils were analyzed for their chemical properties and were subsequently co-related with the abundance of entomopathogenic F. oxysporum, after insect baiting of soils with Galleria mellonella and Tenebrio molitor larvae. The soil chemical properties studied were organic matter content; total organic carbon; total nitrogen; available potassium; available phosphorus; exchangeable cations, such as K+, Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+; pH; total acidity; degree of base saturation; and effective cation exchange capacity. Entomopathogenic F. oxysporum was found in 48 soils, i.e., 60% ± 5.47%, of the total soil samples. Out of the 1280 insect larvae used, 93, i.e., 7.26% ± 0.72%, were found dead by entomopathogenic F. oxysporum. Stepwise deletion of non-significant variables using a generalized linear model was followed by a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM). A higher C:N (logarithmized) (p < 0.001) and lower exchangeable K+ (logarithmized) (p = 0.008) were found significant for higher fungal abundance. Overall, this study suggests that entomopathogenic F. oxysporum is robust with regard to agricultural changes, and GLMM is a useful statistical tool for count data in ecology.

1. Introduction

Entomopathogenic fungi are the natural biological control agents of insect pests [1]. The fungi belonging to Fusarium Link ex Grey (Hypocreales: Nectriaceae) are widely known as plant pathogens and saprophytes. Among animals, Fusarium spp. are quite abundantly associated with insects from different orders, i.e., Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Isoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera [2,3]. A previous study emphasized the use of different Fusarium spp. as biological control agents for the agricultural insect pests, and aroused concern towards the limited research in this direction, pertaining to a generalized apprehension of releasing phytopathogens and related toxins in the environment [4]. The commonly occurring fusaria from insects were termed “insecticolous fungi” [4]. Another study suggested that Fusarium spp., which can kill insects, can be good candidates for insect biological control in agroecosystems. Because these fusaria sometimes demonstrate high host specificity, can be easily cultured in a laboratory setting, can survive in fields as facultative pathogens, and are not all harmful to plants [5].
Fusarium oxysporum Schlechtendahl is a widely known pathogen of plants and animals, including infections in humans; however, safe fusaria also exist in nature. Previous studies provide compelling reasons to consider fungi like F. oxysporum for biological control of insect pests [4,5]. Another recent study presented a detailed dose-response curve and histological evidence of F. oxysporum infections, and subsequent mortalities, in the larvae of wax moth Galleria mellonella Linnaeus (Pyralidae: Lepidoptera) [6]. Therefore, it was a proof-of-concept study demonstrating the entomopathogenicity of F. oxysporum.
Soil is an excellent reservoir of insect-pathogenic fungi (IPF). However, only a few studies report the effects of physicochemical properties of soil on the distribution of IPF. Previous studies in this direction primarily focused on IPF Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae), and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) [7,8,9,10,11,12]. According to our knowledge, to date there is no report that focuses on soil chemical properties in terms of the abundance of IPF F. oxysporum.
In this study, authors analyzed the chemical properties of the soils, including percentage organic matter content (OM); total organic carbon (C); total nitrogen (N); available potassium (K); available phosphorus (P); exchangeable ions such as potassium (K+), sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+); pH in H2O; total acidity (TA); degree of base saturation (DBS); and effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC), and investigated their effects on the natural abundance of entomopathogenic F. oxysporum. To enhance variations in the chemical properties, different soils were considered. Soils were (a) different in texture—i.e., medium-texture (more balanced mixture of sand, silt, and clay) or coarse-texture (high proportion of sand)—(b) sampled from varying habitat types—i.e., cultivated vineyards or adjacent hedgerows, mainly constituted of oak (Quercus spp. Linnaeus, Fagaceae) and pine trees (Pinus spp. Linnaeus, Pinaceae)—and (c) either treated with herbicides or left untreated.
Statistical modeling has been useful in entomology and related studies [13,14]. The generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) is a widely known tool in ecology for count data [15]. In terms of IPF, count data is of great relevance; however, investigations implementing GLMM to study IPF occurrences are limited [16].
The objectives of this work were (a) to understand the effects of soil chemical properties on IPF F. oxysporum occurrences in the soil, and (b) to demonstrate the usefulness of GLMM in studying the abundance of microbial pathogens—for example, IPF. This study goes a step further and provides a newer prospective among the ongoing efforts to utilize microbial entomopathogenicity in insect pest biological control within agroecosystems. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the effects of the soil chemical properties with respect to inter-kingdom host pathogen F. oxysporum.

2. Results

2.1. Infection Frequencies

A total of 80 soils were selected to access the occurrence of entomopathogenic F. oxysporum, in terms of their chemical properties (Table 1). Out of these, 48 samples were found positive for the fungus (i.e., 60% ± 5.47%). A total of 93 F. oxysporum strains were isolated and found to be insect-pathogenic, after testing 1280 insect larvae in total—16 larvae in each of the 80 soils. The frequency of infection among baited larvae by F. oxysporum was 7.26% ± 0.72%.

2.2. Effect of Soil Chemical Properties on Fungal Abundance

Previously, a generalized linear model (GLM) was used to relate the count data of F. oxysporum abundance with soil chemical properties, followed by the stepwise procedure for the deletion of non-significant variables. The only significant soil properties observed were the two log-transformed variables (i.e., log C:N and log K+). This analysis was followed by a GLMM with only log C:N and log K+ as the relevant soil properties, and the farm type as a random effect. For GLMM, the global significance of the model was p < 0.001 (Wald χ2 = 17.516, d.f. = 2), and the AIC value was 228.7. Higher log C:N significantly promoted while higher exchangeable log K+ significantly inhibited the abundance of F. oxysporum mycoses in insect larvae, respectively (Figure 1). The statistical values of the significance for the log-transformed variables were Wald χ2 = 15.468, d.f. = 1, and p < 0.001 for log C:N, and Wald χ2 = 6.976, d.f. = 1, and p = 0.008 for log K+. Other relevant values for these significant variables were estimate = 3.8238, standard error = 0.9722, and Z value = 3.933 for log C:N; and estimate = −0.7271, standard error = 0.2753, and Z-value = −2.641 for log K+.

3. Discussion

Biological communities in soils are likely to be the most complex. Microorganisms in the soils are extremely diverse, and they contribute to numerous ecosystem services that are critical to the sustainable functioning of both natural as well as managed ecosystems [17]. Agroecosystems, for example, constantly lose nutrients through leaching, run-off, denitrification, removal of crop harvest, and residues, and hence are dependent on continuous external inputs of nutrients. Such losses are likely to affect lower trophic levels, and ultimately influence different ecosystems services, such as pest suppression [18]. Soil microbes can affect crop yield, either (a) directly, e.g., as crop pathogens; or (b) indirectly, by participating in soil structure modification, carbon and nutrient cycles, and food web interactions. In either of these cases, soil microbes ultimately influence crop productivity [17,19,20]. To bridge the gaps between these phenomena, the current study focuses on the soil chemical properties with respect to the abundance of IPF F. oxysporum.
The most significant soil variable was the C:N (p < 0.001), which promoted the abundance of mycoses in insect larvae. Nitrogen is essential to plant growth and added as fertilizers in soils, if necessary. However, it was noticed that addition of the NPK fertilizers eventually reduces the density of entomopathogens—for example, nematodes [21]. Moreover, fertilizing soils tend to reduce the internal biological control within agroecosystems [18]. Higher organic matter, and hence, the higher organic carbon, increases the cation exchange capacity of the soils, which ultimately increases fungal conidia attachment [8]. Therefore, an increase in C and a decrease in N, which lead to a higher C:N, eventually facilitated the abundance of IPF F. oxysporum in our study.
Modeling has been an integral part in predicting phenomena in entomology. For example, it has been used previously to estimate flight phenology of world-famous insect pests, such as the European grapevine moth, or Lobesia botrana (Denis and Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in the Douro vineyards [13]. A generalized linear mixed model, with a previous GLM stepwise deletion of non-significant variables, provides a better outlook towards finding the variables that are significantly affecting the data. The stepwise GLM procedures allow the discarding of effects that do not differ significantly from zero. Further usage of a less complex model, such as GLMM, which is widely used in ecology [15], allowed improving the model and generalizing conclusions.

4. Materials and Methods

4.1. Sampling Site

Soils were initially collected in a previous study [1]. In the present study, the four farms, i.e., Aciprestes (41°12′25.2” N 7°25′55.2” W), Carvalhas (41°11′12.9” N 7°32′41.5” W), São Luiz (41°9′22′′ N 7°36′55′′ W), and Granja (41°15′18” N 7°28′34” W) were considered. These farms are located in the “Cima Cargo” region of the Douro vineyards of Portugal. The mean annual rainfall and temperature at the farms of São Luiz, Carvalhas, and Aciprestes ranges between 800–1000 mm and 14–16 °C, respectively. The Granja farm records 1000–1200 mm mean annual rainfall and temperatures ranging from 12–14 °C. Information on any chemical treatments of the soils is provided in the Supplementary Materials (see Table S1).

4.2. Fungal Isolation, Identification, and Screening

Soils were brought within the campus, and approximately one kg of those soils was air-dried and preserved for physicochemical analyses. For isolation of the entomopathogenic F. oxysporum, the remaining soil portions were equilibrated for moisture overnight, and then baited with eight late-instar larvae of G. mellonella and eight late-instar larvae of Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) within 24 h, as described in a previous study [1]. In brief, two sets of four insect larvae of each bait insect were used. To reduce the tendency of silk web formation, the larvae of G. mellonella were given a heat shock in the water bath at 56 °C prior to baiting. Soils were kept at a temperature of 22 °C and a relative humidity of 85%, in the dark inside an environmental chamber (Panasonic MLR-352H-PE). Bowls were frequently agitated and inverted to maximize larval reach for fungal spores in soils. The total incubation period was three weeks. Insect cadavers were monitored every second day to retrieve any mycosed larvae, and to discard cadavers that were infected by entomopathogenic nematodes. Cadavers with a foul smell were also regularly discarded. These schedules were monitored rigorously. Insect cadavers that were suspected to be mycosed by the fungus were then washed for three minutes with 1% NaOCl, followed by three distinct washes with 100 mL of sterilized water. Subsequent culturing on potato dextrose agar was conducted until pure cultures were obtained. Insects were procured as described in another study [2]. Fusarium oxysporum have diverse ecological roles, and therefore, insect baiting seemed a better approach than soil suspension culture or a DNA-based approach for the accurate functional annotation of the obtained F. oxysporum isolate. Fungus was identified using morphological and molecular techniques, as described previously [1]. Infectivity of the isolated fungi were further confirmed by Koch’s postulates, as previously described [1,22,23]. Only the fungi that were found to be pathogenic after confirming Koch’s postulates were further considered in the study. A total of 80 samples were tested for the presence and abundance of entomopathogenic F. oxysporum.

4.3. Soil Analyses and Calculations

Soil pH was determined one hour after preparing a soil–water suspension. Organic matter content was determined using a total organic carbon analyzer (PrimacsSNC-100, Skalar Analytical, Breda, The Netherlands). Total nitrogen was assessed by the Kjeldahl method, and the quantification was done using molecular absorption spectrophotometry [24]. The Egnér–Riehm method was used to extract P and K, and a spectrophotometer and a flame emission photometer (iCE™ 3300 AAS, Thermo ScientificTM, Breda, North Brabant, The Netherlands) was used for their respective determination. Exchangeable cations, or exchangeable bases, were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, following the ammonium acetate extraction at a pH of 7.0 [25]. Titration method described in Thomas was used to determine exchangeable acidity [26]. Effective cation exchange capacity was calculated by summing exchangeable bases and exchangeable acidity. The degree of base saturation was measured by summing the exchangeable bases, dividing it by the ECEC, and then multiplying by 100.

4.4. Data Analyses

The abundance of the infected insects was analyzed using a generalized liner mixed model (GLMM), assuming a Poisson distribution for count data with a log link function. Model assumptions were inspected by visualizing residual plots. Soil properties were used as independent variables, herbicide application was considered as the fixed effect, and the farm type was considered as a random effect. The analysis started fitting the full model, which included all independent variables, followed by the stepwise procedure to remove non-significant variables [27]. The significance of the model was obtained using a Wald test, generated by the likelihood ratio tests of the full model with and without the explanatory variable. The analyses were performed in R (version 3.2.2) using the “MASS” package [28] and the “lme4” package [29].

5. Conclusions

Interactions between plants and microbes are quite complex, and it is necessary to move forward from a simplistic view of an individual plant–microbe interaction to all factors influencing agroecosystems. Soil, its microbes, and plants all work in coherence, and influence various exchanges contributing to plant health and productivity [30]. Soil provides fundamental ecosystem services, which include control of pests and diseases, nutrient cycling, and transformation of toxic materials and organic compounds. Microbes play a critical role in most of the soil processes. In this study, soil chemical properties affecting the presences of IPF F. oxysporum were investigated, and few significant findings could be made. Overall, it was noticed that entomopathogenic F. oxysporum is robust to most of the agricultural disturbances, although higher C:N and less exchangeable K+ might facilitate its natural abundance. This study suggests that IPF F. oxysporum can survive effectively in different soils, which further highlights its capabilities as an excellent soil saprophyte in the absence of host insects, as hinted previously [5]. This kind of approach can be extended to other beneficial soil microbes. Predicting soil microbial quality based on soil chemical properties could be a promising approach in the development of the methods for sustainable agriculture. Authors also suggest the use of GLMM in similar studies focusing on count data profiles, while accessing the factors affecting the abundance of the microbes of interest.

Supplementary Materials

The following are available online at https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/7/4/89/s1, Table S1: Chemicals applied in the farms of the Douro wine region.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization: L.S., I.O., F.R., L.T. and G.M.; methodology: L.S., I.O., F.R. and G.M.; software: L.S. and I.O.; validation: L.S., I.O., F.R. and G.M.; formal analysis: L.S. and I.O.; investigation: L.S., L.T. and G.M.; resources: F.R., L.T. and G.M.; data curation: L.S. and I.O.; writing—original draft preparation: L.S.; writing—review and editing: I.O., F.R., L.T. and G.M.; visualization: L.S. and I.O.; supervision: L.T. and G.M.; project administration: L.T. and G.M.; funding acquisition: L.T. and G.M.

Funding

Research was funded by the National Funds of the FCT (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) under the projects UID/MULTI/04621/2013 and UID/AGR/04033/2013; the project EcoVitis-Maximizing ecosystem services in “Douro Demarcated Region” vineyards, funded by FEADER and by National Funds under the Rural Development Programme (PRODER)—PA 24043, 2011-2014, under the fellowship BI/PRODER/Projeto24043/UTAD/2012; and from European Investment Funds by FEDER/COMPETE/POCI Operacional Competitiveness and Internationalization Programme, under the Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006958.

Acknowledgments

The work is a part of L.S.’s Ph.D. dissertation at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal. The authors would like to thank three anonymous reviewers for providing meaningful comments for the improvement of this manuscript. The authors would also like to thank the technicians of the Sogevinus Finewines SA and Real Companhia Velha for their constant cooperation during the investigation.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. Variations in the number of insect larvae mycosed by Fusarium oxysporum with respect to the significant soil chemical variables. (A) The trend of larval mycoses with respect to the soil variables. (B) Scatter-plot of the number of larval mycoses by Fusarium oxysporum (mentioned as counts) at 80 soil sampling sites, with respect to the significant soil variables.
Figure 1. Variations in the number of insect larvae mycosed by Fusarium oxysporum with respect to the significant soil chemical variables. (A) The trend of larval mycoses with respect to the soil variables. (B) Scatter-plot of the number of larval mycoses by Fusarium oxysporum (mentioned as counts) at 80 soil sampling sites, with respect to the significant soil variables.
Pathogens 07 00089 g001aPathogens 07 00089 g001b
Table 1. Soil physicochemical properties of the collected samples, and the numbers of entomopathogenic Fusarium oxysporum encountered.
Table 1. Soil physicochemical properties of the collected samples, and the numbers of entomopathogenic Fusarium oxysporum encountered.
Farm TypeSoil TypeHerbicide UsageRapid TextureCollection SiteOMPKCa2+Mg2+K+Na+ECECNTApHC:NDBSFusarium oxysporum Count
CarvalhasVineyards0Mediumnh1mCa1A6.31221397.941.550.680.1010.363.010.105.912.155174991
CarvalhasVineyards0Mediumnh1mCa2C4.576904.271.200.330.035.832.450.006.310.8195431003
CarvalhasVineyards1MediumhmCa3B2.212211973.890.690.630.015.781.380.555.29.2963577902
CarvalhasVineyards1MediumhmCa4A1.4346603.471.760.260.086.550.930.985.58.934769851
CarvalhasVineyards1MediumhmCa5A1.3945564.941.170.190.186.710.900.235.88.9326187971
CarvalhasVineyards1GrosshgCa6B4.1596841.090.370.260.034.152.212.404.410.895056422
CarvalhasVineyards1MediumhmCa71.2491924.101.070.280.036.220.890.755.38.0555353880
CarvalhasVineyards1MediumhmCa83.17811475.060.910.480.066.992.040.505.29.0237878930
CarvalhasVineyards1MediumhmCa91.761061183.330.670.400.025.721.221.304.98.3599869770
CarvalhasVineyards1MediumhmCa102.7856743.681.240.270.066.221.810.985.08.894316840
CarvalhasVineyards1MediumhmCa11A2.57701083.500.800.410.106.361.691.554.68.8276961761
CarvalhasVineyards1MediumhmCa12A2.74641046.241.490.360.038.701.790.585.38.8875571931
CarvalhasHedgerows0Mediumnh2mCaM1B5.7114868.171.430.370.0710.252.900.006.411.4382181002
CarvalhasHedgerows0Mediumnh2mCaM2D5.7415908.141.600.390.0610.192.830.006.211.7587771004
São LuizVineyards1MediumhmSl114.38174822.411.870.300.104.932.220.255.511.44503950
São LuizVineyards0Mediumnh1mSl121.5437404.271.040.130.085.530.800.006.111.1616071000
São LuizVineyards1MediumhmSl216.3834726.091.710.250.058.092.960.006.212.4922441000
São LuizVineyards0Mediumnh1mSl22A3.4128683.780.830.210.034.851.850.006.310.6802271001
São LuizVineyards1MediumhmSl3A2.0956508.101.650.140.089.961.210.006.89.99921001
São LuizVineyards1MediumhmSl41A1.2626583.461.090.140.064.740.790.005.99.23976711001
São LuizVineyards0Mediumnh1mSl422.93431083.811.170.320.065.351.820.006.19.33991211000
São LuizVineyards1MediumhmSl516.8445741.340.690.240.062.742.980.405.613.314371850
São LuizVineyards0Mediumnh1mSl523.7725703.370.400.210.064.042.120.006.310.3104961000
São LuizVineyards1MediumhmSl61B4.0428463.122.610.180.176.141.940.055.812.086662992
São LuizVineyards0Mediumnh1mSl62B3.1323424.302.290.170.247.061.460.055.912.44421992
São LuizVineyards1MediumhmSl71A2.4814482.852.560.160.155.791.230.085.311.690122991
São LuizVineyards0Mediumnh1mSl722.076522.452.560.150.135.361.110.085.510.809946990
São LuizVineyards1MediumhmSl81A1.5938762.581.360.190.064.181.0106.49.10818221001
São LuizVineyards0Mediumnh1mSl821.90531081.760.850.230.122.961.106.09.99921000
São LuizVineyards1MediumhmSl911.2942701.440.430.150.032.180.710.135.910.562535940
São LuizVineyards0Mediumnh1mSl921.7151541.860.430.150.052.480.9306.210.644311000
São LuizVineyards1MediumhmSl1012.1829742.430.670.220.063.381.1906.410.6294021000
São LuizVineyards0Mediumnh1mSl1024.0220923.760.770.250.034.821.9306.312.0819351000
São LuizVineyards1MediumhmSl111B2.3110667.181.390.150.078.791.2906.610.3867661002
São LuizVineyards0Mediumnh1mSl112A2.8845608.141.230.160.089.611.5206.710.9859631001
São LuizVineyards0Mediumnh1mSl1124.2277011.231.360.160.1512.912.6106.89.38622221000
São LuizVineyards1MediumhmSl131B2.79501042.190.690.280.053.221.3106.112.3348911002
São LuizVineyards0Mediumnh1mSl1322.1349943.330.590.260.034.211.0706.311.5317881000
São LuizVineyards1MediumhmSl141A2.98591291.780.240.320.032.371.5405.611.2328681001
São LuizVineyards0Mediumnh1mSl142A3.05523682.420.590.510.063.571.5906.211.1311851001
São LuizVineyards1GrosshgSl151A10.96791276.982.450.470.0810.934.380.956.114.519386911
São LuizVineyards0Mediumnh1mSl1521.578741.710.770.200.072.760.9605.69.47840831000
São LuizVineyards1GrosshgSl24116.371527676.123.730.880.1310.876.2206.315.2624451000
São LuizVineyards0Mediumnh1mSl2425.16511715.391.360.430.037.222.5606.311.6943771000
São LuizVineyards0Mediumnh1mSl26A2.1764547.522.450.120.1010.541.080.357.011.665733971
São LuizHedgerows0Grossnh2gSlM1A9.024483.121.360.140.104.724.1505.412.6014011001
São LuizHedgerows0Grossnh2gSlM2D12.845483.891.490.160.866.404.6806.715.917531004
São LuizHedgerows0Grossnh2gSlM3B8.552523.181.390.290.145.503.860.506.012.848713912
São LuizHedgerows0Grossnh2gSlM4A6.791461.820.830.160.083.273.430.385.911.485962891
GranjaVineyards1MediumhmGr211.41484083.51.00.90.45.870.840.095.89.7611238980
GranjaVineyards0Mediumnh1mGr22E1.10241453.20.80.40.35.250.680.5855.19.4110118895
GranjaVineyards1MediumhmGr311.1961332.41.00.30.34.300.760.3154.69.0782211930
GranjaVineyards0Mediumnh1mGr32C0.9811603.60.80.20.35.280.690.3384.68.2602087943
GranjaVineyards1MediumhmGr412.07222071.70.70.70.44.291.280.724.79.37425830
GranjaVineyards0Mediumnh1mGr42C2.57322091.70.70.70.33.901.430.5635.010.418747863
GranjaVineyards1MediumhmGr51B1.05301751.60.50.40.33.480.710.635.08.590862822
GranjaVineyards0Mediumnh1mGr52D1.40251951.40.40.60.33.320.890.6085.09.1003955824
GranjaVineyards1MediumhmGr611.52171201.90.70.30.44.220.900.9454.49.7769956780
GranjaVineyards0Mediumnh1mGr62E1.38111491.40.40.40.33.830.861.354.49.3015814655
GranjaVineyards1MediumhmGr71A0.78101002.20.90.30.34.310.540.6754.78.3326667841
GranjaVineyards0Mediumnh1mGr72C0.5571101.30.50.30.33.180.400.724.87.99936773
AciprestesVineyards1MediumhmAc111.351001004.190.850.160.135.330.9607.28.13476581002
AciprestesVineyards0Mediumnh1mAc122.08961084.481.360.210.036.081.1307.010.689411001
AciprestesVineyards1MediumhmAc212.3290846.111.070.150.067.381.1707.511.5118991003
AciprestesVineyards0Mediumnh1mAc223.04106726.541.710.130.158.531.5407.311.4536291001
AciprestesVineyards1MediumhmAc32.552141044.670.960.200.045.871.3607.210.8888351001
AciprestesVineyards1MediumhmAc411.3166663.901.200.110.095.310.6807.311.1608721005
AciprestesVineyards0Mediumnh1mAc421.2483466.41.10.10.47.960.8606.98.37142331000
AciprestesVineyards1MediumhmAc510.51171273.941.550.090.115.680.3307.38.96897941000
AciprestesVineyards0Mediumnh1mAc520.8828484.81.30.20.36.670.5506.79.27198551003
AciprestesVineyards1MediumhmAc610.9991765.841.440.120.097.490.6907.08.30368351000
AciprestesVineyards0Mediumnh1mAc612.16100586.91.90.20.59.491.2906.79.68914731001
AciprestesVineyards1MediumhmAc711.4659964.781.440.110.066.400.9307.29.08529461000
AciprestesVineyards0Mediumnh1mAc720.6234484.41.20.10.15.920.4106.98.77978541001
AciprestesVineyards1MediumhmAc811.982061596.181.330.130.077.711.2707.39.03864691000
AciprestesVineyards0Mediumnh1mAc821.1973807.91.50.20.49.950.7706.98.96032211000
AciprestesHedgerows0Mediumnh2mAcM12.6212924.081.440.180.065.771.2706.811.95181000
AciprestesHedgerows0Grossnh2gAcM21.614663.071.870.140.045.120.9306.710.0637111002
AciprestesHedgerows0Mediumnh2mAcM31.75201233.391.280.230.034.930.9106.711.1309781002
AciprestesHedgerows0Mediumnh2mAcM40.564563.301.810.100.035.240.3806.68.60457471001
Note: herbicide applied (1) and no herbicide applied (0). Other representations are organic matter % (OM), available phosphorous mg/kg (P), available potassium mg/kg (K), exchangeable calcium ions cmol/kg (Ca2+), exchangeable magnesium ions cmol/kg (Mg2+), exchangeable potassium ions cmol/kg (K+), exchangeable sodium ions cmol/kg (Na+), effective cation exchange capacity cmol/kg (ECEC), total nitrogen g/kg (N), total acidity (TA), and degree of base saturation % (DBS).

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MDPI and ACS Style

Sharma, L.; Oliveira, I.; Raimundo, F.; Torres, L.; Marques, G. Soil Chemical Properties Barely Perturb the Abundance of Entomopathogenic Fusarium oxysporum: A Case Study Using a Generalized Linear Mixed Model for Microbial Pathogen Occurrence Count Data. Pathogens 2018, 7, 89. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens7040089

AMA Style

Sharma L, Oliveira I, Raimundo F, Torres L, Marques G. Soil Chemical Properties Barely Perturb the Abundance of Entomopathogenic Fusarium oxysporum: A Case Study Using a Generalized Linear Mixed Model for Microbial Pathogen Occurrence Count Data. Pathogens. 2018; 7(4):89. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens7040089

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sharma, Lav, Irene Oliveira, Fernando Raimundo, Laura Torres, and Guilhermina Marques. 2018. "Soil Chemical Properties Barely Perturb the Abundance of Entomopathogenic Fusarium oxysporum: A Case Study Using a Generalized Linear Mixed Model for Microbial Pathogen Occurrence Count Data" Pathogens 7, no. 4: 89. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens7040089

APA Style

Sharma, L., Oliveira, I., Raimundo, F., Torres, L., & Marques, G. (2018). Soil Chemical Properties Barely Perturb the Abundance of Entomopathogenic Fusarium oxysporum: A Case Study Using a Generalized Linear Mixed Model for Microbial Pathogen Occurrence Count Data. Pathogens, 7(4), 89. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens7040089

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