Divergence in the tomato rhizosphere microbial community structure driven by three soil types

作者：Ken Chen, Xinru Lin, Xiao Wei, Yan Yin, Mingqin Ye, Shangdong Yang · 发表于：Microbiology Spectrum · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1128/spectrum.03031-25 · 研究领域：Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity、Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions、Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

ABSTRACT Loess, calcareous, and laterite soils are common in Guangxi, southern China, where tomatoes are widely cultivated. To understand how these soil types affect tomato growth and the associated microbial communities, we analyzed soil fertility and the rhizosphere microbiome. Tomatoes in calcareous soil exhibited higher β-glucosidase activity and microbial biomass carbon, whereas those in laterite soil showed increased acid phosphatase activity and microbial biomass phosphorus. Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, and Acidobacteriota were the dominant bacterial phyla across all soils, while Ascomycota and Basidiomycota predominated among fungi. Each soil type hosted distinct microbial communities: loess was enriched with the bacterial genera Ramlibacter and Bradyrhizobium and the fungus Alternaria ; calcareous soil favored the bacterium Rubrobacter and the fungus Fusarium , and laterite supported bacteria such as Bacillus and Sphingobium , along with the fungus Curvularia . Given its higher phosphorus availability and the presence of beneficial microbes like Bacillus , laterite soil appears to provide a more favorable environment for tomato cultivation compared to loess and calcareous soils. IMPORTANCE Soil type is a critical but often overlooked factor influencing tomato productivity in southern China, where diverse soils such as loess, calcareous soil, and laterite are extensively cultivated. Understanding how these soils shape rhizosphere microbial communities and soil nu...