As a core component of power transmission, substations often receive little attention regarding their internal ecological conditions. In this study, we established artificial grasslands at the Xining 330 kV Huayuan Substation and evaluated their ecological benefits. Our results showed that Duchesnea indica (SP1) and Poa annua (SP4) exhibited extremely high coverage (>90%) and aboveground biomass, positioning them as ideal pioneer species for vegetation restoration. The establishment of artificial grasslands significantly increased soil available nutrient content and moisture, reduced soil pH, and created a more favorable microenvironment for microbial communities. Significant differences were observed in the β-diversity of soil bacteria, fungi, and protists: bacterial communities diverged only between the artificial grasslands and the control, whereas fungal and protist communities not only differed from the control but also showed significant separation among different grass species treatments. Atificial grasslands substantially enhanced the complexity of the multi-domain network encompassing bacteria, fungi, and protists; importantly, the degree centrality of the three groups did not differ, underscoring their equivalent importance in maintaining network structure. Untargeted LC-MS metabolomics identified a total of 877 soil metabolites, with lipids and lipid-like molecules being the predominant class. PLS-DA analysis revealed significant differences in metabolites among treatments, and random forest analysis identified protists and their associated micro-food webs as the primary factors driving variation in metabolite composition. In summary, the construction of artificial grasslands within substations triggered multidimensional and profound ecosystem changes, driving cascading effects that extended from aboveground plant communities through the soil micro-food web to soil metabolites. These findings provide a scientific basis for developing ecological restoration technologies based on targeted regulation of the soil micro-food web, and advance our understanding of multi-trophic interactions in terrestrial ecosystems.

Rheum tanguticum is renowned for its medicinal properties, including purgative, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects, primarily attributed to anthraquinones (AQs). However, the molecular mechanisms of AQs biosynthesis have largely been hindered by insufficient genomic resources and functional genomics investigations. Here, we employed multi-omics approaches to address this knowledge gap. The high-quality T2T-level genome was constructed with a size of 2.68 Gb and a contig N50 of 233.65 Mb. Functional annotation revealed that the specific and expanded gene families of R. tanguticum are involved in efficient energy metabolism and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, providing a molecular basis for its stress adaptation and medicinal value. Integrated widely targeted metabolomics, spatial metabolomics and targeted quantification of AQs, we successfully elucidate the AQs spatiotemporal accumulation patterns. Seeds and leaves are key sites for the synthesis and transport of free AQs, while the root core serves as the primary location for the synthesis and accumulation of conjugated AQs. Through integrated genomic, transcriptomic, metabolomic and functional validation analyses, we preliminarily characterised the positive regulatory role of RtPKSIII-8 in the synthesis of aloe-emodin and emodin, as well as the potential function of RtUGT85AD11 in the biosynthesis of AQs and flavonoids. These findings provide essential genomic and functional data for deciphering AQs biosynthetic pathways and lay a theoretical foundation for the medicinal development and genetic improvement of R. tanguticum.

Rheum tanguticum (R. tanguticum) originates from high-altitude regions such as Qinghai and Gansu in China. It serves as both a precious traditional medicinal botanical drug and a potential functional food, and its extensive pharmacological activities have stimulated global demand. However, existing research predominantly focuses on optimizing individual drying techniques or single bioactive metabolites, failing to integrate multi-omics technologies to elucidate the chemical and physical alterations induced by drying. To this end, we evaluated five drying methods by integrating an approach that links physical indicators with chemical composition, revealing that, for the preservation of physical indicators, especially color and rehydration properties, vacuum freeze drying (LD) is optimal; for the retention of the key pharmaceutical metabolite free anthraquinones, microwave drying (WB) is the most effective. Whereas in the comprehensive evaluation of multi-dimensional quality, SG is optimal. Metabolomic analysis confirmed that LD and YG were most effective in preserving key metabolites. Flavonoids, phenolic acids, and amino acids collectively form the core metabolites of differential metabolites in dried R. tanguticum, primarily enriched in pathways such as purine metabolism. Collectively, this work systematically elucidates the impact of drying on R. tanguticum’s metabolite profile and physicochemical traits, offering both a theoretical basis for its precision processing and a transferable framework for optimizing drying techniques in related medicinal edible plants.

Lagotis brevituba Maxim. (Lagotis brevituba), belonging to the genus Lagotis within the family Scrophulariaceae. The content of its secondary metabolites exhibits significant variation across different provenances, yet the underlying mechanisms linking these variations to microbial associations remain unclear. In this study, 12 samples of rhizosphere soil, root systems, and plant specimens of Lagotis brevituba were collected from various locations on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, and the physicochemical properties of the soil were systematically determined. Using high-throughput 16S and ITS rRNA sequencing technologies, the diversity and composition of bacterial and fungal communities were analyzed; simultaneously, the concentrations of 10 key secondary metabolites were quantitatively determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Furthermore, correlation network analysis and redundancy analysis were used to investigate the relationships among soil physicochemical factors, microbial communities, and secondary metabolites. The results indicate that an elevation of 4500 m serves as a critical threshold, marked by significant changes in soil physicochemical properties. Specifically, compared to the HA group (3500–4500 m), the EA group (elevation > 4500 m) exhibited significantly lower soil organic matter and available phosphorus content, while pH and total nitrogen content were significantly higher. These soil changes indicate the presence of nutrient-poor and alkaline stress conditions, which in turn led to the differentiation of rhizosphere bacterial communities and stimulated the synthesis of more antioxidant metabolites (e.g., significantly elevated β-Sitosterol, Quercetin, and Plantamajoside) in the EA group. Microbial community analysis revealed that bacterial community structure exhibited a significant response to changes in elevation, whereas fungal communities showed no significant differences. Soil physicochemical properties (particularly pH, SOM, and AP) are key mediating factors driving microbial community differentiation and the accumulation of secondary metabolites. A combined analysis of correlation networks and Zi-Pi values identified 19 key OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units) mediating the relationships between microorganisms and metabolites. Notably, Aquabacterium exhibited significant negative correlations with Luteolin and Acteoside, while Streptomyces showed significant positive correlations with Hyperoside (P < 0.05). This study demonstrates that soil environmental factors structure microbial communities, which in turn play a crucial role in regulating the secondary metabolites of medicinal plants. These findings provide theoretical foundations for elucidating the environment-microbiome-metabolite nexus in Lagotis brevituba.

Permafrost regions contain 50% of the world's soil carbon, and the stability of permafrost significantly influences the global carbon budget. Rising temperatures accelerate permafrost degradation and enhance microbial activity, leading to a self-reinforcing positive carbon-climate feedback loop through the mineralization of organic matter and the release of greenhouse gases. The assembly of microbial communities, their functional properties, and their response strategies are crucial for elucidating this process. However, current research lacks adequate inter-scale correlation, dynamic simulation, and functional gene network analysis. Therefore, there is an urgent need to systematically integrate multidisciplinary methods to reveal the community-and function-mediated carbon cycling processes. This paper systematically reviews the multi-scale response patterns of permafrost microbes based on metagenomics, stable isotope probing (SIP), and ecological network analysis. We quantified the roles of environmental selection and stochastic processes in community assembly using multivariate analyses (e.g., RDA, Mantel test) and null models. Additionally, interactions among the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles were examined through functional gene annotation and metabolomics data. Long-term observations and simulation experiments were employed to uncover the dynamic changes in microbial communities and functions at elevated temperatures. The primary findings are as follows: (1) character of Community Structure. Permafrost microbial communities exhibit significant vertical stratification and are region-specific, with bacteria (e.g., Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria) and fungi (e.g., Ascomycota) being the predominant taxa. (2) Mechanism of Community Assembly. Both environmental filtering (e.g., pH, nutrient availability) and stochastic processes (such as dispersal limitation and ecological drift) influence the formation of permafrost microbial communities. Notably, ecological drift predominates in community assembly within the active layer, while dispersal limitation plays a more critical role in the permafrost layer. (3) Metabolic Function and Element Cycling. Microbes possess a variety of functional modules associated with carbon degradation (e.g., cellulase genes) and the nitrogen cycle (e.g., nitrogen fixation genes), thereby contributing to a coupled C-N-P cycle in permafrost microbiomes. The metabolic activation of thawed permafrost results in an increase in methane emission flux by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude. Responses to climate warming reveal that freeze-thaw cycles regulate microbial succession through a process characterized by "physical screening, metabolic activation, and community reorganization", resulting in a significant increase in functional gene diversity. The formation of thermokarst landforms further exacerbates carbon release, with microbial necromass carbon constituting the predominant portion of carbon loss. Additionally, permafrost microbes significantly influence the enhancement of global carbon-climate feedback by regulating biogeochemical cycles. Future research should address the technical challenges associated with deep sampling, integrate multi-omics and machine learning techniques, and develop a multi-level framework encompassing genes, communities, and ecosystems. Establishing long-term monitoring networks and conducting cross-regional joint experiments will provide essential data to quantify the contribution of microbes to carbon release, ultimately aiding in the formulation of pathways toward carbon neutrality. This paper provides theoretical evidence for the development of permafrost microbial ecologies and underscores the central role that microbes play in studies of global change.

ABSTRACT Under global warming, the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP) ecosystem faces severe threats, and vegetation restoration is critical for ecological rehabilitation. Unlike previous studies focusing on endangered or invasive species, this research innovatively selects six typical vegetation restoration species (Poa pratensis, Poa araratica, Poa pratensis var. anceps, Festuca sinensis, Elymus nutans, Lolium perenne) and integrates species distribution modeling (MaxEnt), centroid migration analysis, and niche theory to systematically evaluate their restoration potential under current and future climate scenarios—advancing beyond conventional single‐species distribution predictions. Key findings: (1) Elevation (alt) and annual precipitation (bio12) are the dominant factors determining species distribution, with their combined contribution rates to the six species ranging from 46.6% (L. perenne) to 81.7% (F. sinensis), providing precise indicators for site selection in restoration. (2) Except for L. perenne, high‐suitability zones of other species concentrate in the northeastern QTP, with E. nutans having the largest suitable area (80.73 × 104 km2, 61% of total QTP area). Under climate warming, 80% of species (e.g., P. araratica, E. nutans) show significant habitat expansion (e.g., E. nutans moderate/high suitability zones increase by 90.79%/111.66% under RCP8.5 2070s) and an overall westward migration trend (e.g., F. sinensis migrates 246.51 km southwestward under RCP8.5). (3) E. nutans exhibits the widest niche breadth (B1 = 0.156, strongest adaptability) but high niche overlap with other species (e.g., P. araratica vs. P. pratensis, D = 0.75), indicating a potential competition risk requiring field validation when mixed‐sown in resource‐limited areas. This study applies a multidimensional assessment framework that integrates climate response, spatial migration, and niche interaction to QTP vegetation restoration, providing a scientific basis for species selection and configuration with important practical implications for climate‐resilient ecological restoration.

Amid the ongoing trend of global warming, the distribution of habitable areas for Rhododendron is facing significant risks. To investigate the possible spatial distribution of Rhododendron on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in light of future global warming scenarios, we employed the Maximum entropy model (MaxEnt model) to map its suitable habitat using geographic distribution data and environmental factors projected for 2050s and 2070s, considering three representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios, while identifying the key factors influencing their distribution. The results show that: [1] The area under curve (AUC) values of the five Rhododendron were all greater than 0.98, indicated that the model prediction effect was excellent; [2] Isothermality is the most important environmental factor affecting the distribution of Rhododendron (excluding Rhododendron przewalskii). The most important environmental factor for Rhododendron przewalskii is altitude (alt: 51%), with an optimum range of 2700–3300 m, and Rhododendron trichostomum are affected by altitude (alt 18%), with an optimum range of 3200–3900 m. Rhododendron przewalskii (bio12: 21%) and Rhododendron trichostomum(bio12: 19%) are also affected by annual precipitation, and Rhododendron laudandum(bio12: 6%) is less affected by annual precipitation, The optimal amount of precipitation is 400–500 mm as well as 500–800 mm. Rhododendron przewalskii and Rhododendron trichostomum are suitable for survival in high altitude, semi-arid areas [3]. The suitable areas for survival for Rhododendron przewalskii, Rhododendron trichostomum, Rhododendron hypenanthum, and Rhododendron nyingchiense is expanding, while the suitable areas for survival for Rhododendron laudandum is shrinking [4]. The optimal zone for Rhododendron przewalskii is primarily found in the eastern section of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, while suitable areas for survival for the other four Rhododendron species are predominantly located in the southern region of the same plateau. Therefore, these regions will be designated as the primary conservation zones for in-situ preservation. The results of the study provide a basis for the in situ conservation of Rhododendron in response to global warming, relocation conservation, and the construction of nature reserve communities and ecological corridors.

Mineral elements are important to nutrient absorption and secondary metabolite accumulation in plants. Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Regel increasingly becomes scarce due to overexploitation. Consequently, it is imperative to address market demand through artificial cultivation and to explore the value of various plant tissues. We selected two sites with distinct altitude differences to collect roots, petioles, and leaves of both wild and cultivated R. tanguticum, determining the contents of sennoside A, gallic acid, emodin, and chrysophanol and analyzing 17 elements, including Ca, Na, Ba, and more, in the samples. Our results indicated that, except for emodin, the content of other bioactive compounds exhibited a decreasing trend from root to leaf. The wild rhubarbs were of higher quality at high altitudes, while the cultivated at lower altitudes had higher levels of anthraquinones. Meanwhile, significant differences were observed in the elemental content across different tissues, with a decreasing trend from aboveground to underground. A strong correlation existed between elements and bioactive compounds, with more positive correlations observed in the roots. Elements such as B, Cr, Na, and Zn demonstrated a significant positive correlation with the bioactive compounds. This study provides scientific foundations for the quality identification and control of R. tanguticum.

Anisodus tanguticus, a rare medicinal plant producing clinically vital tropane alkaloids: anisodine, anisodamine, scopolamine, and atropine, faces challenges in sustainable cultivation due to wild resource scarcity and suboptimal farming practices. While P addition is known to influence secondary metabolites, its microbiome mediated effects on alkaloid synthesis remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we systematically analysed the mechanism of P on the association between alkaloid content of Anisodus tanguticus and microbiome by setting P addition gradients (LP: 120 kg/hm2, MP: 180 kg/hm2, HP: 240 kg/hm2). The results demonstrated that P addition significantly reduced the content of 4 alkaloids in roots, stems and leaves. While microbial alpha-diversity remained unresponsive, but induced a structural reorganization of the microbial community, encompassing rhizosphere and bulk soil bacteria, which exhibited a marked association with alkaloids, intensified nutrient competition through the nitrogen cycling and organic matter catabolism pathways. Concurrently, the abundance of pathogenic functions within the fungal community underwent a significant increase with P addition. In this study, it was demonstrated that the addition of P inhibits alkaloid accumulation through dual pathways: (1) soil C:N:P stoichiometry imbalance interferes with plant secondary metabolism resource allocation; and (2) the introduction of pathogenic fungi hinders alkaloid synthesis and accumulation in plants. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the cultivation of Anisodus tanguticus by reducing the amount and increasing the efficiency of chemical fertilisers. The study suggests that precise fertilisation of medicinal plants needs to take into account the balance of soil nutrients and microbial function regulation. By suppressing the pathogenic bacterial flora and optimising the abundance of soil probiotic bacteria, it is possible to reduce the amount of phosphorus fertiliser applied and at the same time increase the yield of medicinal active ingredients, which is of great practical value in achieving the sustainable use of ethnomedicinal resources.

Rhubarb is widely used in food, medicine, and industry. As wild supplies decline, cultivated rhubarb is increasingly used instead. However, its quality varies by region, so systematic evaluation is needed. This study measured five active compounds in 235 wild R. tanguticum samples from 46 sites. The results demonstrate that the machine learning models outperformed the linear model, exhibiting lower root mean square error (RMSE: MLM, 0.75; RF, 0.57; XGB, 0.60; KNN, 0.59) and mean absolute error (MAE: MLM, 0.59; RF, 0.44; XGB, 0.47; KNN, 0.46), along with higher R² values (MLM, 0.23; RF, 0.56; XGB, 0.51; KNN, 0.53) for total anthraquinones. The Random Forest (RF) model was selected for final predictions, showing that Xining and its surrounding areas exhibit the highest contents of total anthraquinones (2.5~3.5%), sennoside A (0.4~1.2%), sennoside B (0.8~1.3%), and gallic acid (0.15~0.37%) in wild R. tanguticum. Field cultivation at four sites confirmed the model’s accuracy. Integrating field sampling, model simulation, and cultivation validation, this study identifies optimal regions for high-quality R. tanguticum cultivation, thereby supporting the sustainable utilization and industrial development of rhubarb resources.

R. tanguticum (Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Regel) is a herbaceous plant belonging to Polygonaceae family and Rheum L. genus. It holds considerable value in culinary and medicinal realms, primarily due to their rich Anthraquinones (AQs) content. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate AQs biosynthesis is a prerequisite for increasing their yield. MYB transcription factors (TFs) can regulate the synthesis of a variety of plant secondary metabolites. However, only a few research have explored the role of MYB TFs in Rheum L. species. In this study, 1054 MYB genes from four Rheum L. species were identified. The number of MYB genes in each species was similar, distributed across 11 chromosomes. To investigate the phylogeny of identified MYB TFs, they were classified into four subfamilies. Sequence characteristics, phylogenetic relationships, evolutionary trends, and tissue expression of MYB genes in Rheum L. species were further studied. Subsequently, 12 MYB genes were selected, which shown differential expression in different tissues. Further research on these genes indicated a significant correlation with genes in shikimate pathway and polyketide pathway of AQs biosynthesis. Protein-protein interaction simulations in Arabidopsis thaliana and qRT-PCR experiments further confirmed this situation. This research lays the foundation for studying molecular mechanisms by which MYB TFs regulates AQs biosynthesis in four Rheum L. species.

Root exudates play a crucial role in the communication and interaction between plants and soil. However, the responses of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) exudation rates, and their stoichiometric ratios to multifunctional group species reseeding in severely degraded alpine meadows remain poorly understood. This study was conducted in a severely degraded alpine meadow and four species composition treatments were established: grass mixtures, grass + legume mixtures, grass + legume + sedge mixtures, and grass + legume + forb mixtures. The results showed that among the four reseeding treatments, the grass + legume + sedge mixture exhibited the lowest root C exudate rate and total exudate capacity, while N and P exudation rates, as well as their total exudate capacities, did not differ significantly between treatments. The carbon-to-phosphorus (C:P) ratio of root exudate was lowest in the grass + legume + sedge mixture, while the carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) and nitrogen-to-phosphorus (N:P) ratios showed no significant differences among the four reseeding treatments. Root C and P exudation rates, as well as the C:N and N:P ratios, were significantly correlated with plant diversity, aboveground biomass, total biomass, soil organic matter and electrical conductivity. Variation partitioning analysis showed that root C exudate rate was most strongly influenced by biomass, whereas N and P exudate rates were more strongly affected by plant diversity. These findings suggest that species reseeding patterns significantly influence root exudates and their stoichiometric characteristics and contribute to understand the trajectories of soil microbes and soil health under reseeding.

Root exudate composition serves as a crucial determinant in shaping the structural assembly and functional dynamics of rhizosphere microbial communities. Despite the critical role of plant-microbe interactions at the rhizosphere interface in mediating plant health and productivity, the mechanistic understanding of how root exudation dynamics regulate microbial community construction throughout the development of perennial plants remains insufficiently characterized. This study focused on Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Regel, from which we collected root exudates and microbial samples from the plant-soil continuum during the growth, maturity, and senescence periods. We investigated the feedback regulatory mechanisms of rhizosphere microorganisms mediated by the spatiotemporal dynamics of root exudates and their impact on the contents of bioactive compounds. Our results indicated that the growth development stages significantly altered the composition of root exudates, shifting from primary to secondary metabolites. During the growth and maturity periods, root exudates were primarily composed of organic acids and amino acids, while during the senescence phase, they consisted of amines, benzene, phenolics, and so on. These changes in root exudates significantly impacted the composition and function of the rhizosphere microbial community. Beneficial microbial groups such as Beijerinckiaceae, Propionibacteriaceae, Sphingomonadaceae, and Didymellaceae were inhibited by secondary metabolites like amines and benzene, whereas pathogenic microorganisms, such as TRA3–20 and Pseudeurotiaceae, were promoted. The content of active compounds in the roots significantly decreased during the senescence period, which was closely associated with changes in the abundance of beneficial microbial groups in the rhizosphere. This finding provides novel evidence for elucidating the “root exudates-microbiome-bioactive compounds” cascade regulatory network and offers a theoretical foundation for the precise cultivation of medicinal plants and targeted microbial regulation, which facilitates the transition of herb cultivation from an empirical model to a scientific paradigm.

Introduction:The diversity and dominant species of plant communities are vital for maintaining grassland ecosystem multifunctionality. However, grassland degradation can disrupt plant community diversity, dominant species, and their linkages with ecosystem multifunctionality. Methods:We studied the alpine steppe in the Qinghai Lake Basin, conducting plant community surveys and sampling at 15 sites across four degradation gradients (non-degraded, lightly degraded, moderately degraded, and severely degraded). This study investigated the relationships among plant community diversity, dominance of dominant species, and ecosystem multifunctionality (derived via factor analysis from 11 indicators: aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, plant height, coverage, TN, TP, AN, AP, SOC, SM, and pH) in the context of alpine steppe degradation. Results:The results revealed that plant community diversity-measured using the Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson index, species richness, and Pielou evenness index-followed a unimodal trend with increasing degradation, peaking at moderate degradation levels. Meanwhile, belowground biomass, soil nutrient and moisture content declined significantly with degradation severity. Regression analysis revealed that alpine steppe ecosystem multifunctionality followed a binomial rather than linear relationship with plant diversity and dominance of dominant species across degradation gradients. In non-degraded and moderately degraded alpine steppe, ecosystem multifunctionality responded significantly to Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson index, and species richness, but not to Pielou evenness. During the degradation process of alpine steppe, the linear mixed model results demonstrated that the dominance of dominant species significantly influenced ecosystem multifunctionality. Discussion:Consequently, in the ecological restoration of degraded alpine steppe, precedence should be accorded to the establishment of dominant species and the enhancement of soil conditions, subsequently followed by the optimization of plant community diversity.

Rhubarb is a plant extensively utilized globally for both dietary and medicinal purposes. As wild resources become increasingly scarce, there is a growing interest in artificially cultivated rhubarb. The plant bacteriome is crucial for enhancing plant growth and metabolism. However, the composition and functions of plant bacteriome communities, under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors, remain largely unexplored in wild and cultivated rhubarb. Here, we conducted 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to focus on bacterial samples from bulk soil, rhizosphere soil, root, petiole, and leaf of wild and cultivated Rheum tanguticum at two sites with significant differences in altitude. Our findings indicated that, while host selection was the primary influencing factor, significant differences existed in the composition, function, community structure, and network complexity of the bacterial communities between cultivated and wild R. tanguticum. Cultivation activities altered the relative abundance of bacterial functional groups associated with the nitrogen cycle and significantly increased network complexity. However, these differences were mainly for root-associated bacteria but not for aboveground tissues. Differences in soil chemical properties resulting from fertilization may be the primary factor influencing the variation in bacterial communities between cultivated and wild soils. Structural equation model results also showed that changes in soil total nitrogen induced by fertilizer application directly affect the composition of root-associated bacteria. In addition, we also observed differences in the main active components of wild and cultivated R. tanguticum roots at different altitudes, which were significantly affected by the taxonomic composition and functional characteristics of the root-associated bacteria. This initial insight not only establishes a foundation for further exploration of the intricate interactions among bacteria, host plants, and environmental factors but also fosters the advancement of the R. tanguticum industry, thereby promoting its high-quality and sustainable development.

The extraordinary chemodiversity of secondary metabolites in Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf. underpins its promise as a great Food-Medicine Homology crop. Elucidating how these metabolites accumulate and are spatially organized during root maturation is therefore an essential prerequisite for quality-oriented cultivation and processing.Here, we harvested roots at three developmental stages and integrated MALDI-MSI, UPLC-ESI-MS/MS and RNA-seq to dissect the morphological, metabolic and transcriptional dynamics governing quality formation. Quantitative and imaging results indicate that AQs and flavonoids account for a significant proportion of the bioactive constituents in rhubarb roots and exhibit complementary spatial gradients that expand centripetally with root age. Transcriptome co-mapping identified stage-specific PKSIII and MYBs expression hotspots that precisely colocalize with these metabolite maxima, providing the first genetic evidence for their coordinated biosynthesis in R. tanguticum.These findings not only redefine the spatiotemporal blueprint of metabolite accumulation in rhubarb roots, but also offer high-resolution targets for marker-assisted breeding and targeted processing strategies to maximize both medicinal efficacy and functional-food value.

Anisodus tanguticus (Maxim.) Pascher, a medicinal plant in the Solanaceae family, is widely distributed across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Its medicinal properties, particularly the tropane alkaloids, are influenced by various ecological factors, but the underlying ecological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate how key environmental variables influence both the morphological traits and tropane alkaloid contents of A. tanguticus, with the goal of providing data to support the sustainable cultivation and management of this species. We collected samples from 71 sites across its natural habitat, analyzing the effects of factors such as soil nutrients, altitude, and climate variables on plant traits and alkaloid composition. Statistical methods including Pearson correlation analysis, multiple regression, random forest analysis, and structural equation modeling were used to identify key environmental drivers. Our results indicate that available phosphorus significantly affects aboveground traits, while Cu concentration is most influential for root development. Altitude and longitude were found to be the main determinants of biomass accumulation. Regarding alkaloid content, Mg concentration in the soil was closely linked to anisodine levels, while altitude and latitude were the primary factors influencing anisodamine and atropine content, respectively. These findings provide essential insights into the ecological factors that govern the growth and medicinal compound production in A. tanguticus. Our research not only contributes to understanding the plant’s ecological requirements but also offers practical guidelines for selecting optimal cultivation conditions to enhance both yield and alkaloid quality, supporting sustainable use and conservation of this valuable medicinal resource.

Rare taxa play a role in enhancing metabolism and plant growth. However, the construction and interactions of rare taxa within the soil‒plant continuum of medicinal plants and their impact on secondary metabolite accumulation remain poorly understood. Rheum tanguticum is a unique medicinal plant on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Here, we conducted a study in which soil and plant samples from wild and cultivated R. tanguticum were collected at two sites at varying altitudes, and our focus was on both rare and abundant taxa of fungal communities in various plant compartment niches analyzed through amplicon sequencing. Our findings revealed that rare taxa in the bulk soil and rhizosphere soil were crucial factors influencing the accumulation of secondary metabolites in the roots. Through our analysis, we identified numerous modules and keystone species from the bulk soil and rhizosphere soil that were closely associated with secondary metabolites, with many of these microbial communities belonging to rare taxa. Some of these keystone species, such as Penicillium, Mortierella, and Preussia, were associated with bioactive metabolites. Our research also revealed the presence of some microorganisms in the petiole and leaf endosphere, which were strongly correlated with root secondary metabolites, predominantly rare taxa. Furthermore, host selection was the primary factor influencing colonization by both abundant and rare taxa. Compared with abundant taxa, rare microbial communities presented narrower niche breadths, greater community dissimilarity, and greater phylogenetic diversity. Collectively, our study examines the assembly process of both abundant and rare fungal communities along the soil‒plant continuum and highlights the significant contribution of rare taxa to fungal network composition and the promotion of secondary metabolite accumulation, thereby assisting in the scientific management of R. tanguticum fungal communities to support sustainable industry production.

The Leguminosae family plays a significant role in life and serves as an important food crop. However, global warming poses a serious threat to the growth and potential distribution of Leguminosae species on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. In this study, we employed the MaxEnt model alongside ecological niche models (ENMtools) to predict the distribution of Leguminosae in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau under various climate scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP6.0, RCP8.5) for both the present (Current) and future (2050s, 2070s). This analysis was conducted in conjunction with ecological niche principles. The results showed that: (1) The AUC values of the eight Leguminosae species were all greater than 0.9, indicating that the model had a good prediction accuracy. (2) The distribution of the eight Leguminosae species was primarily influenced by altitude. S. alopecuroides and C. korshinskii were found to be suitable for growth at lower altitudes (Approximate range 1600 ~ 2000 m). In contrast, A. mongholicus, G. uralensis, and M. ruthenica were suitable for growth at high altitudes (Approximate range 2300 ~ 2550 m). (3) The ecological niche of S. alopecuroides was found to be largest (B1 = 0.16, B2 = 0.92), whereas that of G. uralensis was smallest (B1 = 0.06, B2 = 0.87). Meanwhile, M. ruthenica exhibited the highest ecological niche overlap with M. sativa (D = 0.69, I = 0.92), followed by M. sativa and M. officinalis (D = 0.65, I = 0.88), and the lowest overlap was observed between M. sativa and S. salsula (D = 0.40, I = 0.67). Regarding range overlap, G. uralensis demonstrated a significant degree of overlap with most species, particularly with S. salsula, which had the highest overlap value (0.81). Conversely, S. salsula exhibited relatively low range overlap with most species, with G. uralensis and M. officinalis had the lowest range overlap (0.25). (4) Under future global warming climate scenarios, the suitable habitat for M. ruthenica is projected to decrease, while the suitable habitat for the other seven Leguminosae species is expected to increase to varying extents. This study can provide a reference for species conservation of Leguminosae in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and the planning of species conservation areas.

Land-use changes have widespread impacts on terrestrial ecosystems. However, few studies have focused on the responses of soil environmental factors, soil microbial properties, and links between primary productivity, soil microbes, and soil multifunctionality during land-use change in the ecologically sensitive alpine areas on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. In this study, we evaluated the effects of land-use changes from alpine grassland to farmland to shrubland on soil factors and soil microbial characteristics and investigated the associations between aboveground biomass, soil microbial diversity, network complexity, and soil multifunctionality in the Qinghai Lake Basin. The results showed that soil environmental factors and microbial community composition exhibited patterns of gradual recovery toward natural grassland along with the conversion of farmland to shrubland, and soil phosphorus content played a regulatory role in soil microbial restoration along with the conversion of landuse. Furthermore, we found that the recovery of soil microbial co-occurrence network complexity would require a longer time than that of microbial community composition and functional taxa after the conversion of farmland to shrubland. Importantly, we showed that network complexity is an important microbial property mediating the association between primary productivity and soil multifunctionality during land-use changes. These findings address the gap in our understanding of farmland during land-use change surrounding saltwater lake habitats, with great significance for broadening our understanding of land-use change and promoting the development of restoration decisions for alpine ecosystems worldwide.