JA and SA-shaped Rhizosphere Fungal Communities

The goal of this study was to characterize the rhizosphere fungal communities in response to aboveground induction of Jasmonic Acid (JA) and Salicylic Acid (SA) defense pathways in Brassica oleracea plants. These pathways were induced through exogenous phytorhomone application (MeJA or SA) or herbivory (MAmestra brassicae caterpillars for JA, Myzus persicae aphids for SA) in two independent experiments. At the end of the stress-induction phase, rhizosphere soil samples were collected, and bacterial communities were analyzed using ITS amplicon sequencing. This dataset provides insights into how biotic stress alters rhizosphere fungal composition and whether JA- and SA-induced shifts are pathway-specific or general stress responses. The findings contribute to understanding plant-microbe interactions, plant-soil feedback, and microbial recruitment under stress conditions. The dataset is valuable for researchers studying plant-microbiome interactions, microbial ecology, and the impact of plant signaling on soil microbial communities.