Bacterial Community Structure and Environmental Adaptation in the Endorhizosphere and Rhizosphere Soils of Aeluropus sinensis from Saline Lands Across Coastal and Inland Regions of China

TL;DR

This study explores how bacteria in the roots and surrounding soil of a salt-tolerant grass help it survive in salty environments across China.

Contribution

The study reveals distinct bacterial adaptive strategies in the rhizosphere and endorhizosphere of Aeluropus sinensis under saline conditions.

Findings

Soil salinity significantly affects bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere, with moderate levels increasing richness.

Proteobacteria dominate both the root and rhizosphere microbiomes across different habitats.

Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria may support nitrogen cycling in the Yellow River Delta saline-alkaline ecosystem.

Abstract

Bacterial communities in the rhizosphere and endorhizosphere of plants show distinct composition, function, and ecological roles during adaptation to diverse habitats. This study examines how rhizosphere and endophytic microbes associated with Aeluropus sinensis—a salt-excreting halophyte—contribute to its salt tolerance across saline-alkali environments. Microbial diversity and composition were analyzed via 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Soil physicochemical properties were measured to evaluate environmental effects. Linear regression assessed microbial–environment relationships, and co-occurrence networks identified key taxa and their adaptive strategies along environmental gradients. Soil salinity significantly affected rhizosphere bacterial diversity, with moderate levels increasing richness. Proteobacteria dominated both root and rhizosphere microbiomes across habitats. The endorhizosphere community strongly correlated with soil nutrients such as available phosphorus (AP) and total nitrogen (TN). Co-occurrence analysis reveals that chemoheterotrophic microbes in the A. sinensis rhizosphere employ distinct adaptive strategies across gradients, and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) may support nitrogen cycling in the Yellow River Delta saline–alkaline ecosystem. This study underscores microbial adaptability in salt-tolerant grasses, demonstrating that comparing rhizosphere and endorhizosphere microbiomes in Poaceae under stress improves understanding of microbial functions in harsh environments.

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