Microbial community composition of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel root in different regions

This study investigated the microbial community composition of the roots of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel samples from three different regions. 16S rRNA sequencing of P. chinensis (Bunge) Regel samples from three different regions, Anhui (AH), Northeast China (DB), and Hebei (HB), was performed using Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was employed to find collaborative bacterial modules, identify hub microbiota. Finally, the correlation between the hub microbiota was evaluated. The top 10 phyla in the three groups included Acidobacteriota and Actinobacteriota; while the top 10 genera were Alphaproteobacteria and Dongia. Gemmatimonadaceae and Gemmatimonadales, Rhizobiales and Alphaproteobacteria, Rokubacteriales and Methylomirabilia were significantly overrepresented in DB, AH, and HB samples, respectively. The brown and turquoise modules from WGCNA correlated strongly with regional groups (|r| > 0.5 and P < 0.05). Moreover, 14 hub microbiotas were identified at the species level. Among which, Gemmatimonadaceae was positively correlated with Proteobacteria, whereas Acidobacteriota was negatively associated with bacteriap25. The microbial community composition of P. chinensis (Bunge) Regel roots showed differences in the three regions, and the 14 hub microbiotas may be associated with the altitudinal, geographical, climatic, and cultivation practices of this species.