AUTHOR=Tang Tao , Wang Fanfan , Fang Guobin , Mao Ting , Guo Jie , Kuang Hui , Sun Guangzhong , Guo Xiaoliang , Duan Yuanyuan , You Jingmao 

TITLE=Coptischinensis Franch root rot infection disrupts microecological balance of rhizosphere soil and endophytic microbiomes

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1180368

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2023.1180368

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>The ecological balance of the plant microbiome, as a barrier against pathogens, is very important for host health. <italic>Coptis chinensis</italic> is one of the important medicinal plants in China. In recent years, Illumina Miseq high-throughput sequencing technology was frequently used to analyze root rot pathogens and the effects of root rot on rhizosphere microorganisms of <italic>C. chinensis</italic>. But the effects of root rot infection on rhizosphere microecological balance of <italic>C. chinensis</italic> have received little attention.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>In this study, Illumina Miseq high-throughput sequencing technology was applied to analyze the impact on microbial composition and diversity of <italic>C. chinensis</italic> by root rot.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The results showed that root rot infection had significant impact on bacterial α-diversity in rhizome samples, but had no significant effect on that in leaf samples and rhizosphere soil samples, while root rot infection exhibited significant impact on the fungal α-diversity in leaf samples and rhizosphere soil samples, and no significant impact on that in rhizome samples. PCoA analysis showed that the root rot infection had a greater impact on the fungal community structure in the rhizosphere soil, rhizome, and leaf samples of <italic>C. chinensis</italic> than on the bacterial community structure. Root rot infection destroyed the microecological balance of the original microbiomes in the rhizosphere soil, rhizome, and leaf samples of <italic>C. chinensis</italic>, which may also be one of the reasons for the serious root rot of <italic>C. chinensis.</italic></p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>In conclusion, our findings suggested that root rot infection with <italic>C. chinensis</italic> disrupts microecological balance of rhizosphere soil and endophytic microbiomes. The results of this study can provide theoretical basis for the prevention and control of <italic>C. chinensis</italic> root rot by microecological regulation.</p></sec>