Dynamics of soil microbiome throughout the cultivation life cycle of Dictyophora rubrovolvata

Dictyophora rubrovolvata is a valuable edible fungus extensively cultivated in Guizhou Province, China. However, the changes in the soil microbiome throughout its growth cycle remain poorly understood. In this study, we collected rhizosphere soil samples covering the entire life cycle of D. rubrovolvata and conducted high-throughput metagenomic sequencing to examine alterations in the soil microbial composition, key biomarkers, and biological functions. Our analyses revealed significant changes in the relative abundance, alpha diversity, and community structure of the soil microbiota across different growth stages. Through LEfSe analysis, we identified 37 biomarkers. Functional assessments of the microbial community indicated that nutrient metabolism pathways were enriched during the mycelial and fruiting body stages, whereas signal transduction pathways dominated in the primordium stage. These findings suggest that different microbial populations are required at various stages of D. rubrovolvata growth. Overall, our study uncovers the dynamic soil microbiome changes throughout the entire cultivation cycle of D. rubrovolvata. The microbial profiles identified here will help inform the development of microbial inoculants to enhance agricultural production of this valuable fungus.