Enhancing Biodiversity-Function Relationships in Field Retting: Towards Key Microbial Indicators for Retting Control

Abstract

Hemp field retting is a bioprocess that facilitates fibre extraction by degrading pectin and other matrix components surrounding fibre bundles. However, traditional methods rely on empirical practices, often resulting in inconsistent fibre quality. This study investigates the biodiversity–function relationship in the hemp retting ecosystem to identify microbial and enzymatic indicators for improved process control. Over six weeks of field retting, we monitored bacterial and fungal community dynamics using high-throughput sequencing and assessed enzymatic activity profiles. Our results revealed a sequential enzymatic pattern: pectinases (e.g., polygalacturonase) dominated early stages, followed by hemicellulases (β-xylosidase, β-galactosidase), and later cellulases. These enzymatic shifts were reflected in the changes in microbial community composition, with pectinolytic bacteria (e.g., Proteobacteria) dominating the initial phases and cellulolytic fungi (e.g., Ascomycota) becoming more prevalent later. Our results identified specific microbial taxa correlated with optimal retting, suggesting their potential as bioindicators for monitoring retting. Specifically, key bacterial genera such as Pseudomonas and Sphingomonas, and fungal genera like Cladosporium, were associated with distinct enzymatic profiles. Our findings offer new insights into the microbial ecology of retting, providing both microbial and enzymatic indicators that could inform the development of monitoring strategies for process control, ultimately contributing to more consistent hemp fibre production.