Effects of mixed-species litter on bacterial and fungal lignocellulose degradation functions during litter decomposition

Lignocellulose is the main component of forest litter. Due to the recalcitrance of coniferous litter, nutrient turnover is usually slower in coniferous plantations. Lignocellulose decomposition is reportedly rapid in mixed-species litter, but the underlying microbial metabolic pathways that may explain this rapid rate are not well-studied. We collected litter at 60, 150, 270, and 360 days after leaf fall at three plantation types: larch, sassafras, and larch/sassafras mixed plantations. We investigated the contents of lignocellulose components, enzyme activities, microbial communities, and potential genetic functional pathways related to lignocellulose degradation. Most rates of lignocellulose component degradation and enzyme activities in mixed litter during decomposition were significantly higher than in larch litter. The relative abundances of Betaproteobacteria and Dothideomycetes, which are involved in lignocellulose degradation, were significantly higher in mixed-species litter than in larch litter. Bacterial cellulose and hemicellulose, and fungal lignin degradation genes were significantly influenced by plantation forest type. Mantel tests showed that (i) the content of lignocellulose significantly correlated with bacterial and fungal community composition and enzyme activities, and (ii) fungal decomposers might be the main drivers of lignocellulose degradation in different litter types. Mixing larch and sassafras litter changed the composition of the microbial community and the lignocellulose-degradation gene complement, accelerated the decomposition of lignocelluloses, and restored soil quality.