The composition and diversity of soil microbial community were changed by introducing Phallus impudicus into a Gastrodia elata Bl.-based soil

Abstract

Abstract Background The Gastrodia elata Bl. has an ancestral and historical usage in traditional Chinese medicine to treat headache. Being as Orchid, its growth and cultivation demand the species from Armillaria, e.g. Armillaria gallica, or Armillaria mellea etc. The strong competitiveness of Armillaria members has always been a concern of major threat to other soil organisms, thus disrupt the equilibrium of soil biodiversity. A rotation management by introducing other object could possibly alleviate the problems associated with that; however, the underlying mechanisms and their impact on the soil microbial community remains unclear. Results This study aimed to characterize the microbial groups associated with soil biochemical properties responding to different cultivation objects, i.e. G. elata and Phallus impudicus. To assess the composition and diversity of soil microorganisms, we performed the 16 S rRNA and ITS rRNA amplicons analysis of samples collected from soil adhering to the G. elata and P. impudicus. Biochemical properties of soil samples were also measured. The results revealed the composition and diversity of soil microbial community were changed by cultivations of G. elata and P. impudicus. Besides that, the cultivation of G. elata induced significant increases in soil pH and NO3−-N content compared with fallow land. Whereas, subsequent cultivation of P. impudicus reversed the G. elata-induced decreases in soil pH and nutrient levels, which were coincidence with the changes of relative abundances of several potentially beneficial genera. The results of CCA and heatmap also confirmed that the soil microbial community had strong correlations with soil pH and available nutrient. Conclusions Our findings suggested that the cultivation of P. impudicus might have potential benefits as result of affecting soil microorganisms through changes in soil nutrient profile.