A Dual Regulatory Mechanism of Hormone Signaling and Fungal Community Structure Underpin Dendrobine Accumulation in...

(1) Objective: The biosynthesis of medicinal secondary metabolites in Dendrobium nobile Lindl. is regulated by complex environmental, hormonal, and microbial interactions. However, the mechanisms by which subtle variations in plant elevation shape metabolite accumulation through plant-microbe-hormone networks remain largely unexplored. (2) Methods: We conducted a multi-omics investigation of D. nobile cultivated under simulated wild conditions at four elevation gradients (347-730 m) in Chishui, China. High-throughput transcriptome sequencing and ITS-based fungal community profiling were combined with hormone quantification and functional prediction (FUNGuild), enabling integrated analysis of hormone pathway activation, microbial structure-function dynamics, and dendrobine levels. (3) Reults: This study systematically investigated D. nobile cultivated under simulated wild conditions across four elevation gradients (347-730 m) in the Danxia region of Chishui, China. We identified a dual regulatory mechanism underlying the elevation-dependent accumulation of dendrobine alkaloids, involving both plant hormone signaling and endophytic fungal communities. Transcriptomic analyses revealed coordinated upregulation of key hormone pathway genes, including DELLA, PYR/PYL, SnRK2, COI1-JAZ-MYC2, and NPR1-TGA, particularly in CY01Y samples at 670 m elevation from ChiYan base in Chishui city, which corresponded to the highest dendrobine content. Concurrently, functional prediction of the ITS-based fungal sequencing data revealed that CY01Y harbored a stable, functionally enriched fungal community dominated by saprotrophs, fungal parasites, and plant pathogens. (4) Conclusions: Through integrative hormone profiling, gene expression, and microbial function analysis, we propose that elevation-induced environmental cues reshape hormone pathways both directly and indirectly via microbial feedback. Specific microbial taxa were identified as potential modulators of hormone signaling and secondary metabolism. The coordinated interaction between plant hormones and endophytic fungi supports a hormone-microbiome-metabolite network that dynamically regulates dendrobine biosynthesis in response to micro-elevation variation.