Microbiome analysis for artificially establishing the symbiotic relationship between Hebeloma hiemale and Quercus mongolica

Ectomycorrhizae (ECM) play a critical role in enhancing plant growth and health. However, the influence of artificially established ectomycorrhizal symbioses on the structure and function of rhizosphere microbial communities remains inadequately understood. In this study, a symbiotic relationship between Hebeloma hiemale and Quercus mongolica was established to investigate the influence of ECM on soil microbial communities in the rhizosphere of the host plant. High-throughput sequencing revealed that H. hiemale inoculation altered the evenness of both the fungal and bacterial communities and reduced the diversity of the bacterial community relative to the blank control. In particular, several bacterial genera with an enhanced capacity for nutrient cycling, contaminant degradation, and host plant protection were enriched following H. hiemale inoculation. Shifts in fungal community structure suggest potential benefits for the host plant, including reduced cadmium uptake, enhanced mercury remediation, and increased protection against pathogens. Our results highlight the complex interactions between ECM and rhizosphere microbial communities to enable a better understanding of the importance of multi-species relationships in plant-microbe symbioses and their ecological implications.