The relationship between pomegranate root collar rot and the diversity of fungal communities in its rhizosphere

IntroductionThe pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a significant economic tree species. In recent years, the root collar rot has severely affected pomegranates in the dry-hot valley regions of Yunnan Province, China. The rhizosphere microbiome plays a crucial role in plant growth, development, and dis...

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Main Authors: Ziqiang Wu, Jianxin Chen, Jie Chen, Yalin Yang, Aiting Zhou, Jianrong Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1573724/full
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author Ziqiang Wu
Jianxin Chen
Jie Chen
Jie Chen
Yalin Yang
Aiting Zhou
Jianrong Wu
Jianrong Wu
author_facet Ziqiang Wu
Jianxin Chen
Jie Chen
Jie Chen
Yalin Yang
Aiting Zhou
Jianrong Wu
Jianrong Wu
author_sort Ziqiang Wu
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThe pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a significant economic tree species. In recent years, the root collar rot has severely affected pomegranates in the dry-hot valley regions of Yunnan Province, China. The rhizosphere microbiome plays a crucial role in plant growth, development, and disease resistance.MethodsThis study utilized Illumina MiSeq sequencing to analyze the fungal communities in the roots and rhizosphere soils of healthy and diseased pomegranates, focusing on the impact of root collar rot disease on the diversity and structural composition of these communities.ResultsThe results indicated that in the unique fungal communities of healthy plant roots, the relative abundance of ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal functional (AMF) groups was 53.77%, including genera such as Glomus and Septoglomus. After infection with root collar rot disease, the rhizosphere fungal communities became more monotonous, with increased differentiation within sample groups. Fungal groups associated with plant diseases and soil nutrient structures underwent significant changes. The disease altered the composition and functional group proportions of rhizosphere fungal communities, a process linked to soil nutrient structures. And the balance between plant-pathogen-related and saprotrophic functional groups in the rhizosphere was disrupted. Through Koch’s postulates verification, the pathogen was identified as Lauriomyces bellulus.DiscussionThis is the first report of collar rot of pomegranate caused by L. bellulus in China. Studying the differences in rhizosphere fungal community structures and quantities in response to new diseases aids in the rapid prediction of pathogens, effectively saving diagnostic time, and provides theoretical support for disease prediction, diagnosis, and control.
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spelling doaj-art-45fc358a48634b158f400c3fc05ecf3e2025-08-20T03:41:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-03-011610.3389/fmicb.2025.15737241573724The relationship between pomegranate root collar rot and the diversity of fungal communities in its rhizosphereZiqiang Wu0Jianxin Chen1Jie Chen2Jie Chen3Yalin Yang4Aiting Zhou5Jianrong Wu6Jianrong Wu7Key Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, ChinaKey Laboratory of State Forestry Administration on Biodiversity Conservation in Southwest China, College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, ChinaKey Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, ChinaKey Laboratory of State Forestry Administration on Biodiversity Conservation in Southwest China, College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, ChinaKey Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, ChinaKey Laboratory of State Forestry Administration on Biodiversity Conservation in Southwest China, College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, ChinaKey Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, ChinaKey Laboratory of State Forestry Administration on Biodiversity Conservation in Southwest China, College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, ChinaIntroductionThe pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a significant economic tree species. In recent years, the root collar rot has severely affected pomegranates in the dry-hot valley regions of Yunnan Province, China. The rhizosphere microbiome plays a crucial role in plant growth, development, and disease resistance.MethodsThis study utilized Illumina MiSeq sequencing to analyze the fungal communities in the roots and rhizosphere soils of healthy and diseased pomegranates, focusing on the impact of root collar rot disease on the diversity and structural composition of these communities.ResultsThe results indicated that in the unique fungal communities of healthy plant roots, the relative abundance of ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal functional (AMF) groups was 53.77%, including genera such as Glomus and Septoglomus. After infection with root collar rot disease, the rhizosphere fungal communities became more monotonous, with increased differentiation within sample groups. Fungal groups associated with plant diseases and soil nutrient structures underwent significant changes. The disease altered the composition and functional group proportions of rhizosphere fungal communities, a process linked to soil nutrient structures. And the balance between plant-pathogen-related and saprotrophic functional groups in the rhizosphere was disrupted. Through Koch’s postulates verification, the pathogen was identified as Lauriomyces bellulus.DiscussionThis is the first report of collar rot of pomegranate caused by L. bellulus in China. Studying the differences in rhizosphere fungal community structures and quantities in response to new diseases aids in the rapid prediction of pathogens, effectively saving diagnostic time, and provides theoretical support for disease prediction, diagnosis, and control.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1573724/fullpomegranateroot collar rotfungal in the pomegranate rhizospherethe diversity and structural compositionthe soil physicochemical properties
spellingShingle Ziqiang Wu
Jianxin Chen
Jie Chen
Jie Chen
Yalin Yang
Aiting Zhou
Jianrong Wu
Jianrong Wu
The relationship between pomegranate root collar rot and the diversity of fungal communities in its rhizosphere
Frontiers in Microbiology
pomegranate
root collar rot
fungal in the pomegranate rhizosphere
the diversity and structural composition
the soil physicochemical properties
title The relationship between pomegranate root collar rot and the diversity of fungal communities in its rhizosphere
title_full The relationship between pomegranate root collar rot and the diversity of fungal communities in its rhizosphere
title_fullStr The relationship between pomegranate root collar rot and the diversity of fungal communities in its rhizosphere
title_full_unstemmed The relationship between pomegranate root collar rot and the diversity of fungal communities in its rhizosphere
title_short The relationship between pomegranate root collar rot and the diversity of fungal communities in its rhizosphere
title_sort relationship between pomegranate root collar rot and the diversity of fungal communities in its rhizosphere
topic pomegranate
root collar rot
fungal in the pomegranate rhizosphere
the diversity and structural composition
the soil physicochemical properties
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1573724/full
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