Abstract
Background and aims
Root exudates are pivotal in soil carbon and nutrient cycling, enhancing nutrient availability and plant resource utilization efficiency under stress. Despite challenges in obtaining accurate soil-borne signaling chemical information, further exploration of belowground plant interactions mediated by root exudates is essential.
Methods
We conducted a planting density experiment using Haloxylon ammodendron seedlings, including single-plant (D-1), two-plant (D-2), and three-plant (D-3) conditions.
Results
Single-plant trials exhibited the largest biomass, while two-plant trials had the highest plant nutrient content, and three-plant trials had the highest soil total phosphorus (STP) content, with an enrichment of Sphingobacteriales and Vicinamibacteria in the rhizosphere. The abundance of compounds released by roots initially decreased and then increased with planting density, with flavonoids as the predominant differential secondary metabolites. 7-deoxyloganate, podophyllotoxin, and myristic acid exhibited positive correlations with biomass and negative correlations with root total phosphorus (RTP), soil total nitrogen (STN), STP, pH, and Sphingomonadales. Ecgonine, raucaffricine, and neohesperidin were positively correlated with plant biomass, soil pH and Sphingomonadales. O-methylandrocymbine, and gibberellin A8 displayed positive correlations with soil nutrients, Vicinamibacteria, and Sphingomonadales but negative correlations with Cyanobacteria.
Conclusion
Plant root exudates can influence the root bacterial community, soil properties, and plant competition outcomes, providing insights for H. ammodendron vegetation regeneration and desert ecosystem protection.
Graphical abstract
Highlights
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Plant interactions had stronger effects on root growth than on aboveground parts.
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Two-plant exhibited the smallest root traits and the largest nutrient traits.
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Demonstrated avoidance at two-plant, antagonism was selected at three-plant.
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Secondary metabolites affected soil nutrient availability directly and indirectly.
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Exudates increased nutrient availability at the cost of reduced biomass and carbon.
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Data availability
The project accession number for the data of 16S rDNA is PRJNA1098027.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32260266 and 32101360) and the Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology of Education Ministry. We would like to thank Yaling Chang, Eryang Li, Yuehan Liu, Yuxian Fan, Lamei Jiang, and Huifang Yang at the Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology of Xinjiang University for their indispensable help in the field and/or laboratory.
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Suwan Ji and Deyan Wu designed the concept study. Suwan Ji and Wenjing Li carried and executed the experimental work. Suwan Ji, Deyan Wu, Wenjing Li, Guanghui Lv, and Xuemin He jointly wrote the manuscript. Guanghui Lv and Xuemin He handled funding acquisition and project administration. All the authors have approved the manuscript and agree with the submission.
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Ji, S., Wu, D., Li, W. et al. Mediating role of root-exuded secondary metabolites in intraspecific interactions with Haloxylon ammodendron. Plant Soil (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-024-06783-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-024-06783-8