Characterization of Root-Associated Microbial Community and Diversity in Napiergrass across Radiocesium Degradation Lands after the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Disaster in Japan

The microbiome derived from soil that associate with plant roots have been found to foster plant growth and enhance stress resistance. These microbiome exhibit potential benefits for soil remediation and restoration of radioactive-cesium (137Cs)-contaminated soils. Despite this, there remains a dearth of information pertaining to the community and diversity of root-associated microbiome in 137Cs-contaminated soil following the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) disaster. To address this, we conducted a comparative analysis of the communities and diversity of root-associated microbiome within two distinct types of fields subsequent to the NPP disaster. Specifically, we investigated the community dynamics of indigenous root-associated microbiome of napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum) in both grassland and paddy field 137Cs-contaminated land-use fields by means of Illumina MiSeq sequencing within a 30-km radius around the Fukushima-Daiichi NPP in 2013.