Metagenomic analysis of bacterial communities in wild-simulated ginseng soils inoculated with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria

Wild-simulated ginseng is cultivated in natural forest soils without artificial structures, fertilizers, or pesticides. To improve early growth and yield, five bacterial strains isolated from the rhizosphere of wild-simulated ginseng were evaluated for their plant growth-promoting abilities. The strains exhibited diverse traits such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, and enzymatic activities. Field inoculation tests showed that strain 75 (Pseudomonas frederiksbergensis) significantly increased shoot and root biomass compared with the control. Soil chemical analysis and metagenomic sequencing revealed enrichment of the order Pseudomonadales and maintenance of bacterial alpha diversity, indicating a stable and beneficial soil microbial community. The metagenome data provide insights into rhizosphere microbial interactions that support sustainable forest cultivation of wild-simulated ginseng.