Integrated Adaptive Responses of Rhizosphere Microbial Communities and Functional Genes to Cadmium Stress in Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Heavy metal pollution impacts on soil microorganisms are of growing concern. This study employed high-throughput sequencing and qPCR to investigate rhizosphere microbial communities and functional genes responses in ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) under cadmium (Cd) stress. Results showed dose-dependent shifts in microbial diversity, metabolic pathways and functional gene abundance. The relative abundances of bacterial classes Alphaproteobacteria and Bacteroidia and genera Cellvibrio and Algoriphagus increased with Cd levels, suggesting roles in Cd adaptation. The classes Actinobacteria, Saccharimonadia, and Acidimicrobiia and the genera Rheinheimera, Pseudomonas, and Sphingomonas decreased. The fungal genera Acremonium, unclassified Hypocreales, Cladosporium and Paramyrothecium increased under high Cd, while Albifimbria, Fusarium, and Ramichloridium decreased. Differential adaptive strategies to Cd toxicity were observed between bacterial and fungal phyla. Redundancy analysis identified pH, EC, TN, and Cd as key determinants of microbial variation. FAPROTAX prediction revealed significant changes in dominant functional groups involved in nutrient cycling, and FunGuild analysis indicated increased saprophytic fungi with elevating Cd levels, potentially enhancing detoxification. Functional genes related to nitrogen and carbon cycling also varied with Cd gradients. This study systematically elucidated the response of rhizosphere soil microbial communities and functional gene abundance to Cd stress, providing mechanistic insights for developing ryegrass tolerance strategies.