Invasion by Spartina alterniflora has detrimental effects on existing ecosystems. Studies have shown that microorganisms can control plant growth and development. However, the root-associated community structures of bacteria, archaea, and fungi of S. alterniflora have rarely been investigated. Here, we applied metagenomics to reveal the bacterial, archaeal, and fungal communities across four root compartments, including the bulk soil, rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and endosphere. Our findings revealed the variation in different community structures. The bacterial and fungal communities exhibited greater potential environmental flexibility than the archaeal community. The endosphere environment had the simplest microbial networks and highest stability. Additionally, we identified root-exuded metabolites from S. alterniflora, which may influence microbial community assembly. Our results indicate that the rhizoplane plays a crucial role in controlling microbial entry into the root, selectively recruiting beneficial microbes for plant growth and colonization, thereby impacting nutrient cycling and plant health. This study provides insights into microbial diversity and function within the S. alterniflora root zone and suggests potential microbial-based strategies for managing this invasive species.
Zhao et al. (Sun,) studied this question.