This study was performed to uncover the regulatory effects of medium-element fertilizers on the primary metabolism and pharmacodynamically active secondary metabolism of Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. ( A. chinensis ), and to elucidate multi-dimensional response mechanisms of A. chinensis under the mediation of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S). Through a field experiment on two-year-old A. chinensis , the present study systematically dissected the regulatory mechanisms of medium-element fertilizers by employing multi-omics approaches. The results showed that A. chinensis had significantly promoted synergistic absorption of macronutrients and micronutrients under the treatment of low Ca and high Mg and S. The proposed treatment also enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). The plant exhibited remarkably increased the contents of pharmacologically active components. According to subsequent analysis of metabolic level, there were obvious upregulation in the activities of pathways such as hormone synthesis, terpenoid biosynthesis, plant secondary metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the highly expressed genes were significantly annotated to pantothenate and coenzyme A biosynthesis, as well as sesquiterpene biosynthesis pathways. Moreover, significantly upregulated expression levels of key enzyme genes were detected in these related pathways. Simultaneously, the intervention of medium-element fertilizers resulted in no strong adverse disturbance to the original soil microbiota of A. chinensis but effectively altered the ecological niche of relevant microbial groups and enhancing the carbon and nitrogen metabolic functions, phototrophic utilization, and energy metabolism capabilities of the soil. Collectively, the application of medium-element fertilizers (4.53 kg/hm² for Ca, 5.06 kg/hm² for Mg, and 6.67 kg/hm² for S) can enhancing the intensity of both primary and secondary metabolisms that are associated with the synthesis and accumulation of pharmacodynamic substances in plants, thereby significantly enhancing the yield and quality of A. chinensis . • This study examines Ca, Mg and S effects on A. chinensis growth, filling medium-element research gaps. • This study integrates medium-element intervention with omics and rhizosphere microbes. • Using multi-omics and 16S rDNA sequencing, it dissects mechanisms from physiology to molecular levels. • The medium-element plan boosts yield/quality, avoids soil degradation, and supports green cultivation.
Li et al. (2026) studied this question.