Host genotype and age shape the microbial community in the rhizosphere soils of forests.

Microbiota living in the rhizosphere influences plant growth and fitness, from the opposite perspective; whether host genotypes control its root microbiota is of great interest to forest breeders and microbiologists. To improve low-yield plantations and promote sustainable management of high-throughput sequencing was used to study the chemical properties and microbiome in rhizosphere soil of forests under three genotypes (common , local and ) and three growth stages (sapling stage at 4-year-old, primary fruit stage at 7-year-old, and full fruiting stage at 11-year-old). The results showed that the rhizosphere soil organic matter (OM), nutrient concentrations, diversity, and community composition of the microbiome were significantly varied among different genotypes. The relative abundance of symbiotic and pathotrophic fungi in the rhizosphere soil of was significantly higher than that of . Concentrations of OM, available phosphorus (AP), and bacterial alpha diversity increased with tree age. Fungi of , and and bacteria of and had potential for fertilizer development for plantation. genotypes and growth stages were significantly correlated with the rhizosphere soil pH, OM, and available potassium (AK). Soil pH and OM were key factors that affected the microbiome in the rhizosphere soils. In conclusion, tree genotypes and growth stages shaped microbial communities in rhizosphere soils, and some plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria were identified as preliminary candidates for improving plantation growth.