Sugarcane rhizosphere microbiota: exploring diversity across varied topographies and growth environments

The global agricultural importance of sugarcane highlights the crucial need to understand the dynamics of rhizosphere microbiota for maximizing yields. Guangxi, a crucial sugarcane production region in China, boasts diverse landscapes. This study aims to identify microbial variations in wild soil across different terrains and to elucidate differences between planted and wild soils within plains sugarcane rhizospheres. A comprehensive examination of soil microbiota was conducted in wild sugarcane rhizospheres spanning mountains, hills, and plain, alongside planted sugarcane rhizospheres in the plains of Guangxi, China. A total of 75 soil samples underwent high-throughput sequencing. The analysis employed microbial diversity assessment, species correlation, and functional profiling. The analysis unveiled distinct disparities in microbiota composition among various wild soil topographies and between planting and wild soils within plains sugarcane rhizospheres. Notably, certain microorganisms, such as Nitrospira and Streptomyces in hills, Mesorhizobium thiogangeticum in mountain, and Clonostachys rosea and Stachybotrys bisbyi in plain, exhibited significantly higher proportions. Planting soil demonstrated lower richness and diversity of bacteria compared to wild soil. Exclusive identification of microbial species such as Lysobacter niastensis, Vicinamibacter silvestris, and Aspergillus aculeatus in wild soils suggests potential benefits for sugarcane growth. Functional profiling indicated enriched metabolic pathways in wild soils, particularly those associated with nutrient cycling and organic matter degradation. This study offers a comparative analysis of sugarcane rhizosphere microbiota, highlighting potentially beneficial microbial species. These insights advance agricultural microbiology and soil science, providing a foundation for sustainable improvements in sugarcane agriculture and crop productivity.