Complementary Rhizosphere Microbial Strategies Drive Functional Specialization in Coastal Halophyte Succession: Differential Adaptation of <i>Suaeda glauca</i> and <i>Phragmites communis</i> to Saline–Alkali Stress
While rhizosphere microbiome functions in saline soils are well documented, complementary microbial strategies between pioneer and late-successional halophytes remain unexplored. Here, we used 16S rRNA sequencing and FAPROTAX functional prediction to compare the rhizosphere bacterial communities of...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1399 |
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| Summary: | While rhizosphere microbiome functions in saline soils are well documented, complementary microbial strategies between pioneer and late-successional halophytes remain unexplored. Here, we used 16S rRNA sequencing and FAPROTAX functional prediction to compare the rhizosphere bacterial communities of two key halophytes—<i>Suaeda glauca</i> and <i>Phragmites communis</i>—in a reclaimed coastal wetland. The results demonstrate that both plants significantly restructured microbial communities through convergent enrichment of stress-tolerant taxa (<i>Firmicutes</i>, <i>Pseudomonas</i>, <i>Bacillus</i>, and <i>Planococcus</i>) while suppressing sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (<i>Sulfurovum</i> and <i>Thiobacillus</i>). However, they exhibited distinct microbial specialization: <i>S. glauca</i> uniquely enriched organic-matter-degrading taxa (<i>Promicromonospora</i> and <i>Zhihengliuella</i>) and upregulated aromatic compound degradation (2.29%) and ureolysis (0.86%) according to FAPROTAX analysis, facilitating carbon mobilization in early successional stages. Notably, <i>P. communis</i> selectively recruited nitrogen-cycling <i>Serratia</i>, with increased nitrate respiration (3.51% in <i>P. communis</i> vs. 0.91% in <i>S. glauca</i>) function, reflecting its higher nitrogen demand. Environmental factors also diverged: <i>S. glauca</i>’s microbiome correlated with potassium and sodium, whereas <i>P. communis</i> responded to phosphorus and chloride. These findings uncover distinct microbial recruitment strategies by halophytes to combat saline stress—<i>S. glauca</i>–<i>P. communis</i> synergy through microbial carbon-nitrogen coupling—offering a template for consortia design in saline soil restoration. |
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| ISSN: | 2076-2607 |