Climate change intensifies drought, which increasingly threatens the quality of medicinal plants. To explore the long-term effects of drought priming (DP) on medicinal plants, this study investigated two Codonopsis pilosula cultivars with distinct drought tolerance: drought-tolerant cultivar G1 and drought-sensitive cultivar W1. The plants were subjected to two treatments during the seedling period: drought priming (DP) and non-priming (NP). The results showed that during the seedling period, DP did not significantly increase antioxidant enzyme activity or the content of photosynthetic pigments but inhibited growth-related traits and yield-related characteristics. However, during the medicinal formation period, DP significantly enhanced the content of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids) by 18.2-20.0 %, improved antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP activities increased by 18.6-49.0 %), and boosted the accumulation of secondary metabolites (total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and total alkaloids increased by 19.6-21.2 %, 15.7-17.1 %, and 72.2-74.5 %, respectively). Additionally, DP significantly improved nutritional quality by increasing crude protein (16.8-33.8 %), crude fat (78.9-85.8 %), and total dietary fiber (37.2-63.3 %). The effects of DP exhibited clear genotype dependency. Under DP conditions, the drought-tolerant cultivar G1 contained 60.1 % more atractylenolide III than the drought-sensitive W1, but DP treatment narrowed the genotypic gap by substantially enhancing atractylenolide III accumulation in W1. Meanwhile, DP significantly increased the content of syringin, a characteristic component of the W1 cultivar. In summary, DP induces a stress memory effect in C. pilosula, significantly enhancing antioxidant capacity, the content of key bioactive components, and nutritional quality during the medicinal formation period. Furthermore, DP mitigates inherent differences between cultivars by improving the quality of the drought-sensitive cultivar while reinforcing the advantages of the drought-tolerant cultivar. This study unveils the concept of "trans-phase stress memory" in medicinal plants, demonstrating that early drought exposure primes long-term biochemical reprogramming and provide critical theoretical support for the application of green cultivation techniques, such as stress priming, to achieve "quality improvement and efficiency enhancement" in medicinal plants.

As a medicinal and culinary important species, Codonopsis pilosula requires comprehensive germplasm research and innovation. This study elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying stem pigmentation in C. pilosula through integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. Comparative profiling of purple-stemmed (CZ) and green-stemmed (CL) cultivars revealed 8674 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 105 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs). Notably, the CZ cultivar demonstrated elevated levels of procyanidin B2, delphinidin, and four cyanidin derivatives, exhibiting 44.6-fold higher total anthocyanin content compared to the CL cultivar. This phenotype was associated with the coordinated regulation of MYB/bHLH transcription factors and structural genes (including F3'5'H, ANS, and CHS). Multi-omics networks identified flavonoid biosynthesis (enriched with 30 DEMs) and redox regulation (involving 23 antioxidant-related DEGs) as pivotal pathways. Enhanced catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) enzymatic activities, coupled with increased accumulation of proline and raffinose, together with anthocyanin-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, were associated with enhanced stress tolerance in the CZ cultivar. Key transporters (such as GSTU45 and MATE30), potentially involved in vacuolar anthocyanin deposition, were characterized. These findings provide novel insights into metabolic regulation and molecular breeding strategies for medicinal plant quality improvement, primarily through understanding the mechanisms underlying stem-specific anthocyanin accumulation and associated stress resilience.

Drought stress during the Codonopsis pilosula (Campanulaceae) seedling stage significantly affects its growth, quality, and yield. The aim of this study was to identify drought-tolerant cultivars of C. pilosula by using the growth—physiology—yield composite index (GPYCI) and drought-tolerant indices. Nine C. pilosula cultivars were evaluated under normal-watered (black plastic film hole sowing, BF) and water-stressed (spread in the open field, SF) conditions in a design that adopted a two-factor paired experiment with three replications. The emergence rate was significantly influenced by the water treatment, while both the water treatment and the cultivar affected root length, proline content, APX activity, and chlorophyll levels. The G1 cultivar performed better than others in multiple aspects. Yields and their attributes varied among cultivars under different water levels. The average yield was 7350.76 kg/hm2 under BF conditions and 4856.32 kg/hm2 under SF conditions. Drought stress reduced the total root length, single root fresh weight, and yield by 18.33%, 28.4%, and 33.9%, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed unique physiological response mechanisms to water changes among cultivars. Drought tolerance indices and comprehensive factor analysis indicated varying levels of drought tolerance among cultivars. This study has provided valuable insights into the growth, physiology, and yield response of C. pilosula under drought conditions and laid the foundation for breeding drought-tolerant cultivars.

Plant tissue culture is a fundamental and widely applied technique in plant biology and agriculture. In medicinal plant research, tissue culture plays an indispensable role in the conservation of endangered species, the rapid propagation of valuable resources, the preservation of germplasm, and the production of secondary metabolites. As a representative medicinal plant of the Lonicera genus, L. japonica is widely utilized worldwide due to its significant economic, ecological, medicinal, and ornamental value. By using tissue culture technology, it is possible to significantly enhance the production of secondary metabolites in L. japonica and effectively alleviate resource shortages, providing a new approach for its sustainable utilization. This review summarizes the recent research progress on L. japonica in the field of tissue culture, covering aspects such as direct organogenesis, indirect organogenesis through callus tissues, protoplast culture, hairy root culture, and polyploid culture. Additionally, the biosynthetic pathway of chlorogenic acid was explored in detail, and the mechanism of action of inducers in plant cells was analyzed. The study focused on the potential regulatory mechanisms of inducers on chlorogenic acid. Eventually, the future development trends of medicinal plant biotechnology are envisioned, aiming to provide a broader perspective for the in-depth study of medicinal plants and to promote continuous development and innovation in this field.

Formula fertilization has been shown to effectively increase both yield and economic profit in medicinal plants. Lonicera japonica Thunb (L. japonica) is a significant medicinal plant; however, no studies have yet investigated the impact of formula fertilization on its performance. Therefore, the objective of this study is to establish models for enhancing the yield of L. japonica through formula fertilization using various ratios of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in the primary production areas of the hilly and gully Loess Plateau in China. A ‘3414’ formula fertilization trial was conducted, examining different doses and ratios of N, P, and K applied to L. japonica .Fertilizer was applied to a small pit, 30 cm deep, surrounding the root of each tree. The spacing between plants and rows was maintained at 1.0 m x 1.0 m. A fertilizer model was developed by calculating and comparing the yield and economic profit of the plants. The results indicated that the application of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in the soil significantly improved yield. Phosphorus (P) was identified as the primary limiting factor affecting yield. The output-to-investment ratio of the N 2 P 2 K 3 fertilizer was significantly reduced. The fertilizer effect function can be expressed as: Y = 296.66 - 0.81X 1 + 11.53X 2 + 4.05X 3 - 0.051X 1 ² - 0.60X 2 ² - 0.28X 3 ² + 0.13X 1 ×X 2 + 0.20X 1 ×X 3 - 0.029X 2 ×X 3 . The recommended doses of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers are 18.25–26.75 g, 6.27–8.73 g, and 10.04–13.96 g per plant, respectively.The application of formula fertilizer in this study resulted in a notable increase in yield and economic benefit, with improvements of 38.18% and an additional 0.3729 USD per plant, respectively. These findings significantly contribute to the production of L. japonica, enhancing both yield and profitability in specific geographical conditions suited for cultivating economic plants.

To clarify the influence of seedlings period drought priming on Codonopsis pilosula during the medicinal formation period, a two-factor randomized block experimental design was employed to investigate the effects of drought-priming (DP) and non-priming (NP) during the seedlings period on the physiological response, morphological yield, quality metabolism, and genetic interaction of seven C. pilosula cultivars after transplantation. Results indicated that DP treatment during the seedlings period induces stress memory, influencing the growth and development of C. pilosula during the medicinal formation period. The regreening and full-bloom stages were identified as critical stages for responding to DP. In terms of physiological response, DP significantly reduced MDA content and AR, while the proline and GA3 levels were primarily affected by genotype. The interaction between treatment and cultivar (T x C) positively influenced POD, chlorophyll and hormones (IAA, ABA, and SA). Cultivar was the dominant factor leading to the differences in root morphology and yield. Quality metabolism evaluation showed that DP significantly increased extract and polysaccharide content, and the secondary metabolites contents such as protocatechuic acid, syringin, lobetyolin, and atractylenolide III increased by 26.9 %, 13.5 %, 15.0 %, and 14.9 %, respectively, compared to NP. However, the response of adenosine and L-tryptophan to DP was highly dependent on the genotype. In summary, DP improves medicinal quality by regulating growth and physiological characteristics, reducing oxidative damage, and synergizing the genotype, though its effects vary significantly by genotype. This study provides a basis for breeding drought-resistant C. pilosula cultivars and optimizing cultivation strategies.

Angelica sinensis, as an important traditional Chinese medicinal herb, exhibits significant quality variation across different provenances, influenced by genetic and ecological environmental factors. This study integrates HPLC, multivariate statistical analyses, and species distribution modeling (SDM) to systematically investigate the spatial variation of six key bioactive compounds (Senkyunolide I, 3-N-Butylphthalide, 3-Butylidenephthalide, chlorogenic acid, ligustilide, and ferulic acid) across major cultivation regions in China. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) revealed significant chemical differentiation among samples from Qinghai, Sichuan, Hubei, Gansu and Yunnan provinces. Correlation and regression analyses demonstrated that phthalide compounds negatively correlate with precipitation but positively associate with solar radiation, whereas chlorogenic acid accumulation favors environments with higher moisture levels. Species distribution predictions based on the MaxEnt model indicate that suitable habitats for A. sinensis will contract and shift northwestward under various future climate scenarios (SSP126 to SSP585), with marked declines in suitability under high-emission scenarios. The spatial distribution of active compounds is also driven by climatic factors, exhibiting pronounced regional heterogeneity and dynamic changes. Based on these findings, targeted cultivation zoning and resource conservation strategies are proposed. The research provides a scientific basis for quality-oriented regional cultivation planning of A. sinensis and offers theoretical support for resource conservation and sustainable utilization under the context of climate change.

Background: Codonopsis pilosula is a traditional herb widely used in Asian countries. As regulatory institutions increasingly acknowledge its medicinal and food-related characteristics, the attention from scholars is expected to increase rapidly. However, an overview and reports on research focus on this promising herb are currently lacking. Therefore, the objective of this study was to fill this knowledge gap by conducting a systematic review of relevant literature to explore the developing history and research focus on C. pilosula. This research is of significant importance in gaining a deeper understanding of the potential benefits and application areas of C. pilosula. Method: The output, institutions, countries, authors, highly cited publications, frontier focus and funding agencies of C. pilosula were analyzed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and COOC software. Results: The development of C. pilosula experienced 3 stages: initial stage (1979–2002), fast stage (2003–2012), and explosive stage (2013-present), with each stage showing linear growth. Worldwide attention from 1292 institutions in 27 countries have been paid, with China leading in output and collaboration. Lanzhou University in China contributed most publications with Fangdi Hu as a core specialist facilitating collaborations in agricultural and pharmacological research. A stable cooperation network has formed among researchers from different fields, focusing on pharmacological activity, chemical constituents, quality control, and medication rules. The research focus updated timely with new scientific frontiers occur. Medication rules, data mining, molecular docking, traditional Chinese medicine, gut microbiota, and polysaccharide are frontier focus presently and in the near future. Significant attention and funding have been provided by the national and local government of Gansu province in China. Conclusion: Research on C. pilosula is thriving, particularly in China, with a promising future in traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacology. This study provides valuable insights for future research directions and contributes to the effective development of C. pilosula.

H. perforatum, as one of the Traditional Chinese Medicinal materials, possesses a variety of pharmacological activities and high medicinal value. However, in recent years, the wild resources of H. perforatum have been severely depleted due to global climate change and human activities, and artificial cultivation faces problems such as unstable yield and active ingredient content. This poses a serious obstacle to the development and utilization of its resources. Therefore, this experiment took H. perforatum as the research object and used 894 distribution records of H. perforatum and 36 climatic environmental factors, using the MaxEnt model and GIS technology to explore the main climatic factors affecting the distribution of H. perforatum. Additionally, by utilizing the principles of ecological niche theory, the potential suitable distribution regions of H. perforatum across past, present, and future timelines were predicted, which can ascertain the dynamics of its spatial distribution patterns and the trend of centroid migration. The results indicate that the main environmental factors affecting the geographical distribution of H. perforatum are solar radiation in April (Srad4), solar radiation in September (Srad9), mean temperature of driest quarter (Bio9), solar radiation in November (Srad11), annual mean temperature (Bio1), and annual precipitation (Bio12). Under future climate scenarios, there is a remarkable trend of expansion in the suitable distribution areas of H. perforatum. The centroid migration indicates a trend of migration towards the northwest direction and high-altitude areas. These results can provide a scientific basis for formulating conservation and sustainable use management strategies for H. perforatum resources.

Dazomet is a dry powder formulation that releases toxic gas containing methyl isothiocyanate, which controls soil-borne pests and weeds, improving crop yields when applied to moist soils. To explore the efficacy of dazomet fumigation in the cultivation of the perennial herb Codonopsis pilosula, four typical cultivars (G1, G2, W1 and TCK) in Gansu Province were selected for seedling cultivation after soil fumigation (F) by dazomet, and non-fumigated soil was used as a control (CK). The experiments took 2 years to complete. The functional diversity of the soil enzymes and microorganisms, seedling emergence and physiological characteristics, and the quality and yield of Codonopsis seedlings and Radix were assessed. The results showed that the seed emergence rate, seedling re-green rate and several antioxidant enzymatic activities improved in the treatments involving soil fumigation with dazomet, and membrane lipid peroxidation in the seedlings decreased. On average, compared with those of the respective controls, the root viability and yield of the seedlings of the tested cultivars also increased by 34.87% and 42.4%, respectively, and the incidence of root rot in the seedlings was reduced by 83.9%, compared with their respective controls. After harvest, the yield increased by 23.9%, the incidence of root rot decreased by 61.3%, increase in yield and a 61.3% reduction in incidence, and the medicinal materials were determined to be safe and residue-free. The effects of fumigation were cultivar-specific and were especially prominent in G2. Therefore, soil fumigation with dazomet could improve the quality and productivity of Codonopsis pilosula seedlings. Taken together, these findings suggest that when herbs are bred by seedling transplantation, especially cultivars of good quality but poor resistance or species with rare germplasm resources, soil fumigation provides a way to improve cultivation effectiveness and, more importantly, ensures the probability of successfully breeding the species.

Radix Vicatia thibetica de Boiss (RVT) is locally known as “Xigui” or “Dujiao-danggui” in Tibetan medicine and is often used as a substitute for Radix Angelica sinensis (RAS) in daily nourishing diets and clinical applications. In this study, we determined and compared the contents of polysaccharides, total coumarins, ferulic acid, total phenols, total flavonoids, chlorogenic acid, protein, and amino acids, and the composition of volatile oil in RVT and RAS. Biological activities, including antioxidants, scavenging of nitrite, inhibition of tyrosinase, thrombin, and coagulation FXa, were comparatively evaluated. Results showed that RVT contains more polysaccharides, phenols, flavonoids, proteins, glutamic acid, and lysine as compared to RAS. Among volatile compounds, 14 species are similar, and 20 species are different in RVT and RAS. Overall, among volatile compounds, the content of 3-N-Butylphthalide was higher, whereas the content of ligustilide was lower in RVT volatile oil. A significant difference was reported in the bioactivity of RVT and RAS. The biological activity of RVT had higher antioxidant, nitrite scavenging, and tyrosinase inhibitory activities, whereas it showed much lower thrombin and FXa inhibitory activities. Correlation analysis showed that the antioxidant, nitrite scavenging, and tyrosinase inhibitory activities were related to the phenol and flavonoid content, whereas the thrombin and FXa inhibitory activities were related to ferulic acid and volatile oil content. This study presents a comparative analysis of RAS and RVT’s chemical compositions of antioxidant, nitrite-scavenging, inhibition of tyrosinase, thrombin, and coagulation FXa activities. It was found that both RVT and RAS have their unique advantages, and RVT has the potential to be utilized as functional foods, cosmetics, and medical products.

Rhubarb is a popular food in Europe due to the purgative action. Cultivation is the key way to ensure sustainable development and utilization of this herbal plant. In this paper, standardized cultivation of Rheum tanguticum (a kind of rhubarb) was explored through a three-year field experiment which investigated the effect of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizer on growth indexes, sennoside content of R. tanguticum at different harvesting stages. Results showed that P and K fertilizer significantly increased root length, root diameter and root fresh weight, the maximum root fresh weight was 894.22 g/plant. Sennoside content of three-year-old R. tanguticum applied K fertilizer was over 5.87% at each harvesting stage in the third growth cycle and it increased along with growing year. Sennoside content has no obviously increment at the same harvesting stage, it also has no positive correlation with different harvesting stages and the wilting stage > green stage > growth stage in the same year. This study demonstrated that P and K fertilizer had accelerated effect on growth of R. tanguticum at the same harvesting stage, but had no obvious influence on the sennoside content. This will provide experimental data and guidance for the standardized cultivation of R. tanguticum.

[目的]探讨采收期对党参产量及质量的影响.[方法]以不同生长年限(2年生、3年生、4年生)与不同采收时间(从9月10日每隔15 d采挖1次,共采挖5次)采收的党参为材料,测定其生理特性和品质指标.[结果]随着采收时间的推移,药材外观性状均有所改善,产量有所上升.在10月10日采收的党参,党参多糖、炔苷含量均最高.不同采收时间条件下,党参药材浸出物均符合中国药典标准.综合各项指标分析显示,综评指数大小排序为10月10日(0.7721)>11月9日(0.7708)>10月25日(0.7168)>9月 25日(0.3968)>9月 10日(0.0404);随着栽培年限的增长,虽药材外观性状有所改善,但内在指标(水分、灰分、浸出物)欠佳.栽培3年采收的党参,药材产量、炔苷含量均最高.[结论]综合产量与有效成分评定,最佳采收期以年限3年采收时间10月10日左右为宜,此期党参产量较高,富含生物活性成分,质量优异.

以肉苁蓉种子和管花肉苁蓉种子为研究对象,采用赤霉素、氟啶酮、氟草敏处理种子,探索两种肉苁蓉种子快速萌发的条件,并制订肉苁蓉和管花肉苁蓉种子质量检验规程.结果表明,以赤霉素预处理种子后,经氟啶酮或氟草敏培养,可显著提高种子的发芽率和发芽势.肉苁蓉种子的最佳萌发条件为 25℃黑暗下,种子在蒸馏水中吸胀 24 h,以1 000 mg/L赤霉素预处理 72 h,0.01 mg/L氟啶酮培养 21d;管花肉苁蓉种子的最佳萌发条件为 25℃黑暗下,种子在蒸馏水中吸胀 24 h,以 1 mg/L赤霉素预处理 72 h,100 mg/L氟啶酮培养 21d.

目的:比较蒙古黄芪品系(种)间农艺性状、药材产量及产量构成因素的差异,为蒙古黄芪新品种选育提供科学依据.方法:试验以'陇芪1号'为对照(CK),'甘芪1号'(GQ1)和'甘芪2号'(GQ2)为试验品系,测定三者农艺性状指标、叶绿素含量、氮含量、药材产量及产量构成因素,对药材产量、根腐病发病率等因子进行综合评价.结果:蒙古黄芪品系(种)间农艺性状及药材产量存在差异,GQ1和GQ2主根较CK显著增长,分别增长36.91％和52.51％;侧根数明显减少,分别较CK减少19.70％和18.23％,2个新品系根型更为优异.基于药材产量构成因素与发病率的综合评价得出GQ2(0.7801)>GQ1(0.4821)>CK(0.2837),新品系GQ1和GQ2根腐病发病率均显著降低,GQ2药材产量最高.

为探讨党参种子生长发育过程中干物质的积累规律和种子最佳采收期,本试验以2年生党参为研究对象,对其花朵挂牌标记并定期采样,测定单果种子鲜重、干重及种粒数等指标.结果表明:(1)党参种子千粒鲜重呈"先增后降"的动态变化趋势,在开花后第21 d达最大值0.4015 g,之后趋于接近千粒干重;(2)党参种子千粒干重随着种子生长发育进程呈现出"S"型曲线动态变化趋势,符合Logistic曲线方程.灌浆速率在第30 d达到最大值0.0246 g·d-1(以1000粒记),此时为灌浆高峰时期;(3)党参种子含水量"先升后降",在开花后第12 d达最大值84.40％,并在灌浆高峰即将结束时迅速下降.结合党参种子生长发育规律及灌浆特性得出,党参种子应在开花后第51 d左右(10月上旬)采收最佳,此时党参种子干物质积累总量趋于最大,种子变为黑褐色且蒴果尚未裂开.

为进一步探明党参花期构造和传粉生物学规律,本研究通过田间观察开花动态,采用 TTC 法和联苯胺-过氧化氢法检测花粉活力以及柱头可受性,再通过人工授粉的方式检测植物的繁育系统类型.结果表明,党参花萼从有小裂缝至完全裂开需 6～8 h,花冠裂开后 4～8 h内雄蕊开始偏离柱头,柱头在花冠裂开后 24h左右开始裂开,其单花寿命多在2～3 d;花药裂开时花粉的活力最强(74.18％),柱头裂开后柱头内壁可受性最强;异株异花和同株异花都可结实,但异株异花的结实率较同株异花高 10.00％,自花授粉的结实率为 9.00％,异花授粉的结实率为 40.00％.党参存在自交亲和性,但以异交为主,在授粉的过程中昆虫是主要的传粉媒介.

To solve the serious problem of stem and leaf shading in the middle and late stage of traditional flat planting of Codonopsis pilosula, this study analyzed the effects of different stereoscopic traction heights on the photosynthetic characteristics and growth of C. pilosula and explored the optimal traction height to improve the yield and quality of C. pilosula. The experiment designed three stereo-scopic traction heights [H1(60 cm), H2(90 cm), and H3(120 cm)] with natural growth without traction as the control(CK). The results showed that the increase in stereoscopic traction heights broadened the growth space of stems and leaves of C. pilosula, enhanced the ventilation effect, significantly increased the average daily net photosynthetic rate of C. pilosula, promoted the absorption of intercellular CO_2, decreased the transpiration rate, and reduced the evaporation of water. Moreover, it effectively avoided the problem of weakened photosynthesis, maintained the carbon balance of individual plants, and promoted the growth and development of the C. pilosula roots. In terms of the seed yield of C. pilosula, it was ranked as H2>H1>H3>CK. To be specific, H1 increased by 213.41% compared with CK, H2 increased by 282.43% compared with CK, and H3 increased by 133.95% compared with CK. The yield and quality of C. pilosula were the highest in the H3 treatment group, with the fresh yield of 6 858.33 kg·hm~(-2), 50.59% higher than CK, dry yield of 2 398.33 kg·hm~(-2), 76.54% higher than CK, and lobetyolin content of 0.56 mg·g~(-1), 45.22% higher than CK. Therefore, the stereoscopic traction height has a great influence on the photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and quality of C. pilosula. Particularly, the yield and quality of C. pilosula can be optimized and improved in the traction height treatment of H3(120 cm). This planting method is worth popularizing and applying in the cultivated management of C. pilosula.

中药材秦艽作为我国常用大宗药材,具有祛风湿、清湿热、退虚热、止痹痛等功效,在诸多本草著作中均有记载.秦艽分布于我国大多省区,以西北地区最为丰富;药用部位主要含有环烯醚萜类、黄酮类、三萜类、甾体及糖类等成分,具有镇痛、抗炎、保肝、抗肿瘤、抗病毒以及降压等作用.秦艽作为化学成分多样性和生物活性广泛的一味中药,备受许多学者关注.文章在查阅相关文献的基础上,对秦艽的资源分布、化学成分以及药理作用3个方面进行了文献综述.

Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels is an important Chinese medicinal plant. A. sinensis seedlings are grown on an undisturbed alpine meadow soil to ensure the high-quality seedlings, but these soils are disappearing year after year. Thus, selecting a suitable bed soil for A. sinensis seedlings could ensure their long-term sustainability. Using HiSeq sequencing of 16S and 18S marker genes, we investigated the rhizosphere bacterial and fungal microbiotas of the seedlings grown in wheat, astragalus, potato, and angelica-cultivated soils at a geo-authentic habitat. Co-occurrence network analysis, canonical correspondence analysis, Mantel test, and Envfit test were used to examine the relationship between the microbiotas and the surrounding factors. Astragalus-cultivated soils exhibited the following properties: the highest plant weight, the highest neighborhood connectivity in the bacterial network, the highest ratio of positive/negative relationship in both bacterial and fungal networks, the highest relative abundance of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the ectomycorrhizal fungi, the lowest relative abundance of Rhizoctonia solani, the suitable soil pH, and the close relationship between the rhizosphere microbiotas and the ecological factors. Moreover, each growth stage has its own major drivers in all crop-cultivated soils. Climate temperature and soil pH at 56 days after planting, precipitation at 98 days, and plant weight as well as microbial biomass C and N at 129 days were the major drivers of the bacterial and fungal microbiotas. Overall, the astragalus-cultivated soil was a suitable bed soil for nurturing A. sinensis seedlings to replace the undisturbed alpine meadow soils.