Root-associated microbiota of Robinia pseudoacacia in an erosion-prone ecosystem

While the role of diverse soil microbiota in restoring erosion-induced degraded lands is well-known, the facilitative interactions among symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, rhizobia, and heterotrophic bacteria, which drive multiple functions in eroded ecosystems, remain unclear. This study explored the interplay between the diversity and biotic associations of root-associated microbiota and multifunctionality across an eroded slope of a Robinia pseudoacacia plantation on the Loess Plateau. We found AM fungi were recruited by R. pseudoacacia to cope with P limitation, playing roles as keystones and connectors within cross-kingdom networks. Furthermore, AM fungi facilitated the assembly and composition of bacterial and rhizobial communities, collectively driving slope multifunctionality. The symbiotic association among R. pseudoacacia, AM fungi, and rhizobia promoted slope multifunctionality via enhanced recalcitrant compound decomposition, improved P mineralization potential, and optimized microbial metabolism. These findings underscore the critical importance of AM fungal-centered microbiota associated with R. pseudoacacia for functional delivery in eroded landscapes, offering insightful implications for the sustainable restoration of degraded ecosystems in erosion-prone regions.