Phenological shifts drive rhizosphere microbial community dynamics in Subtropical woody bamboo (Chimonobambusa utilis (Keng) P. C. Keng): pH and total phosphorus as main drivers

Abstract

As a high-value clonal plant with rapid reproduction and growth characteristics, the relationship between the phenology of bamboo and the changes in rhizosphere microbial communities is still in its infancy. Here, we explored the change trends of composition and structure of rhizospheric microbial communities at key phenological stages in a medium-mountain woody bamboo Chimonobambusa utilis (Keng) P. C. Keng stands. This study employed Illumina high-throughput sequencing of 16S and ITS fragments to examine the dynamic changes in rhizosphere microbes from the dormancy stage to the shooting stages of Ch. utilis, as well as their relationship with soil physicochemical properties. Ch. utilis rhizosphere microbes had greater numbers of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), higher α-diversity, more complex and stable microbial community structure during the shooting stage, with more keystone species including Arthrobacter, Leohumicola, Sarocladium, etc. Moreover, rhizosphere microbes at the dormancy and shooting stages exhibited different preferences for soil physicochemical properties, and particularly soil total phosphorus (TP) demonstrated a more significantly positive correlation with rhizosphere microbes at the shooting stage. This study reveals the dynamic changes of rhizosphere microorganisms in different growth stages of subtropical bamboo, highlighting the significant impact of soil pH and TP on the composition of rhizosphere microorganisms during the bamboo shooting stage. This work provides new insights into the relationship among bamboo, soil and soil microorganisms, as well as utilization of rhizosphere rhizobial communities for enhancing sustainable productivity and ecological management of bamboo forests.