Chen Xiaoli, Mao Xinying, Ding Yu, Chen Tian, Wang Yue, Bao Jie, Guo Lanping, Fang Lei, Zhou Jie
School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, P. R. China.
State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijng, 100700, P. R. China.
BMC Plant Biol. 2025 May 20;25(1):669. doi: 10.1186/s12870-025-06656-x.
Panax quinquefolius L., with a history of over 300 years in traditional Chinese medicine, is notably rich in ginsenosides-its primary bioactive components. Although our previous study found that biochar application could enhance the content of ginsenoside Re, Rg and other contents in P. quinquefolius, its effect on the overall secondary metabolism of P. quinquefolius and its mechanism are still unclear. In this paper, the correlation between plant microbiome and secondary metabolites was studied from the perspective of plant rhizosphere microorganisms and endophytes, and the mechanism of biochar-induced metabolic reprogramming of P. quinquefolius was revealed. The results showed that biochar treatment significantly increased the accumulation of various substances in P. quinquefolius, including nucleosides, glycerophosphocholines, fatty acyls, steroidal glycosides, triterpenoids, and other bioactive compounds. Additionally, biochar treatment significantly enriched beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms such as Bacillus, Flavobacterium, and Devosia, while reducing the relative abundance of harmful fungi like Fusarium. Furthermore, it promoted endophytic Flavobacterium, Acaulospora, and Glomus, and suppressed pathogenic genera such as Plectosphaerella, Cladosporium, and Phaeosphaeria. These shifts in rhizosphere microbial community and endophytes structure and function were closely linked to the accumulation of secondary metabolites (e.g. ginsenosides Rg, F2) in P. quinquefolius. Overall, our findings suggest that biochar may influence key endophytes and rhizosphere microorganisms to regulate the accumulation of secondary metabolites in P. quinquefolius. Therefore, this study provides valuable insights into the potential application of biochar in Chinese medicine agriculture.
西洋参，在传统中医中有300多年的应用历史，尤其富含人参皂苷——其主要生物活性成分。尽管我们之前的研究发现，施用生物炭可以提高西洋参中人参皂苷Re、Rg及其他成分的含量，但其对西洋参整体次生代谢的影响及其机制仍不清楚。本文从植物根际微生物和内生菌的角度研究了植物微生物组与次生代谢产物之间的相关性，揭示了生物炭诱导西洋参代谢重编程的机制。结果表明，生物炭处理显著增加了西洋参中各种物质的积累，包括核苷、甘油磷酸胆碱、脂肪酰基、甾体糖苷、三萜类化合物和其他生物活性化合物。此外，生物炭处理显著富集了有益的根际微生物，如芽孢杆菌、黄杆菌和德沃斯氏菌，同时降低了有害真菌如镰刀菌的相对丰度。此外，它促进了内生黄杆菌、无梗孢菌和球囊霉，并抑制了诸如褶盘孢属、枝孢属和暗球腔菌属等致病属。根际微生物群落以及内生菌结构和功能的这些变化与西洋参中次生代谢产物（如人参皂苷Rg、F2）的积累密切相关。总体而言，我们的研究结果表明，生物炭可能影响关键内生菌和根际微生物，从而调节西洋参中次生代谢产物的积累。因此，本研究为生物炭在中药农业中的潜在应用提供了有价值的见解。
