Specificity of the rhizosphere fungal community in Alsophila spinulosa: structure, function, and co-occurrence networks

Through a comparative analysis, this study systematically investigated the assembly mechanisms, functional traits, and interaction networks of the soil fungal community in the rhizosphere of the tree fern Alsophila spinulosa. While the overall structure of the fungal community was similar between the rhizosphere and bulk soil, nuanced differences were observed. Specific taxa (e.g., Perenniporia, Tubulicium) showed relative enrichment in the rhizosphere. Functional prediction further indicated a proportionally higher potential for animal pathogenicity within the community. This pattern suggests that, alongside the dominant saprotrophic functions, the rhizosphere microbiome may influence root health indirectly by mediating soil micro‑food webs. Co‑occurrence network analysis revealed a distinct interaction pattern within the rhizosphere community, wherein keystone taxa such as Arthrinium and Volutella may play important roles in maintaining the network architecture. Collectively, the rhizosphere of A.spinulosa maintains a fungal community with unique functional and structural features, providing a microbiological perspective for understanding the adaptation of this ancient fern to the forest understory habitat. Future studies integrating multi‑omics approaches are warranted to validate the functions of these key fungal groups and elucidate their specific mechanistic roles.