The Influence of Transgenic Insect-Resistance and Herbicide-Tolerance Soybean KM2208-23 on the Rhizosphere Micro-Biome

The consequences of stacking multiple insect-resistance and herbicide-tolerance genes, particularly across the entire plant life cycle, remain inadequately understood. This study investigated the impact of stacked-trait transgenic soybeans on rhizosphere microbial communities across five growth stages (pre-sowing, V3, R3, R5, R8). Using 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing, we compared the rhizosphere microbiome of the transgenic modified soybean (GMO) with its non-transgenic control check (CK). Results showed transient but significant shifts in soil properties (e.g., available nitrogen) and microbial beta diversity during the V3 stages. However, plant developmental stage was the predominant factor shaping microbial succession, with its effect outweighing that of the transgene. No persistent changes in microbial alpha diversity were observed. We conclude that the influence of this stacked-trait soybean on the rhizosphere is growth-stage-specific and represents a minor, recoverable perturbation rather than a sustained ecological impact. These findings contribute to the ecological safety assessment of multi-gene transgenic crops.