AUTHOR=Zhong Jian , Li Ju , Liao Jichao , Ma Yanqin , Li Zhi , Yang Liang , Chang Wei , Miao Mingjun 

TITLE=Alpine radish rhizosphere microbiome assembly and metabolic adaptation under PBAT/PLA humic acid biodegradable mulch films

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1623052

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2025.1623052

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=IntroductionAlpine agroecosystems present unique crop production challenges due to extreme environmental conditions, where rhizosphere microbiomes significantly influence plant adaptation.MethodsTo investigate mulch-induced microbial changes in high-altitude agriculture, this study analyzed a radish field in China using SMRT sequencing (16S rRNA/ITS) and metagenomics, comparing PBAT/PLA biodegradable films with/without humic acid (HA) at varying thicknesses.ResultsResults demonstrated that radish cultivation selectively enriched Proteobacteria and Acidobacteriota while depleting Chloroflexi and Actinobacteria, with fungal communities shifting from Basidiomycota-to Ascomycota-dominance. Notably, HA-amended mulches enhanced bacterial diversity and specifically promoted polymer-degrading microbes (Chitinophagaceae, Candidatus_Udaeobacter, Chaetomiaceae). Metagenomic profiling revealed thickness-dependent increases in functional genes related to carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism in HA-treated soils.ConclusionThese findings advance our understanding of how biodegradable mulch formulations can be optimized to enhance microbial ecosystem services in alpine farming systems.