Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
08:16
Inoculation Strategies to Infect Plant Roots with Soil-Borne Microorganisms
Published on: March 1, 2022
Rhizosphere Microbiome Dynamics Associated with Root Rot in Polygonatum kingianum Coll
Shanshan Xu1, Shuangfei Deng1, Jielin Shi1
1Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of In-Forest Resource, College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China.
Microorganisms
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Root rot disease in Polygonatum kingianum (PKC) alters rhizosphere microbial communities, shifting networks from fungal to bacterial dominance. Soil properties significantly influence these microbial dynamics, offering insights for disease management.
Area of Science:
- Microbial Ecology
- Plant Pathology
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Polygonatum kingianum (PKC) is a valuable medicinal herb facing yield and quality threats from root rot.
- Understanding rhizosphere microbial dynamics is crucial for managing PKC root rot, especially identifying consistent patterns across different locations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate rhizosphere microbial community shifts in healthy versus diseased PKC plants across multiple planting bases.
- To identify location-transcending microbial patterns associated with PKC root rot.
- To explore the influence of soil properties and plant health status on microbial community structure and network organization.
Main Methods:
- Rhizosphere soil collection from healthy and diseased PKC at three distinct planting bases.
- Soil physicochemical property analysis.
- Bacterial (16S rRNA) and fungal (ITS) community profiling via amplicon sequencing.
- LEfSe, co-occurrence network analysis, redundancy analysis (RDA), and Mantel tests.
Main Results:
- Geographic origin was the dominant factor shaping microbial communities; soil moisture, organic matter, and nutrients were significantly associated.
- Consistent indicator genera (e.g., Acidiferrimicrobium in healthy, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia in diseased) and trophic patterns (increased pathotrophic fungi) were identified.
- Microbial networks shifted from fungal-dominated in healthy plants to bacterium-dominated in diseased plants, with increased negative correlations.
- Soil physicochemical properties, not plant health status, were the primary drivers of microbial variation.
Conclusions:
- This study presents the first systematic evidence of cross-location microbial shifts and network reorganization linked to PKC root rot.
- Findings highlight the significant role of soil properties in driving these microbial changes.
- The identified microbial patterns and network dynamics provide a foundation for developing targeted, eco-friendly strategies for PKC root rot prevention and control.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Microbe-Plant Interactions
Microbe-plant interactions represent a dynamic spectrum of associations shaped by intricate chemical signaling. These interactions can be neutral, beneficial, or detrimental, and profoundly influence plant physiology, growth, and ecosystem function. The plant microbiome, comprising bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, and viruses, plays a pivotal role in mediating these effects through surface colonization, internal colonization, or systemic symbiosis.Mutualistic associations, particularly with...
02:11The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
01:29Fungal Group Zygomycota
Zygomycota, previously classified as a distinct fungal group, are primarily terrestrial, saprophytic molds that play a crucial role as decomposers. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that these fungi are now divided into two major clades — Mucoromycota, which includes many symbiotic species, and Zoopagomycota, which primarily consists of parasitic and pathogenic fungi. These groups exhibit distinct ecological roles and reproductive strategies while sharing key structural and...
02:40Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores
Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the biosynthesis of the...
01:29Soil Microbial Ecology
Soil microbial ecology is defined by highly diverse, spatially structured communities that drive nutrient cycling, organic matter turnover, and overall ecosystem stability. Although a gram of soil can contain thousands of bacterial and archaeal taxa, the ecological processes they mediate are even more crucial for sustaining terrestrial life.Microhabitats and NichesSoil is a heterogeneous mixture of minerals, organic matter, water, and air. Microbes inhabit distinct microhabitats formed by...
01:25Microbial Interactions: Mutualism
Mutualism is a symbiotic interaction in which all participating organisms benefit. These relationships can be obligate or facultative and are fundamental to ecosystem functions across diverse biological systems.Plant–Fungi MutualismOne well-known example is the association between plant roots and mycorrhizal fungi, such as Rhizophagus species. The fungal hyphae penetrate the root hairs and the epidermis, forming an extensive hyphal network that establishes a symbiotic association. Through this...