Fibrous ginseng root biomass induces soil microbiome degradation by enriching ginseng pathogens

Root-mediated soil microbiome degeneration leads to diseases in plants, a process not fully understood, impeding effective management strategies. Ginseng, particularly vulnerable to replant disease, is an ideal subject for studying this phenomenon. Rhizodeposits are central to shaping the rhizospheric microbiome, among which root biomass is the most abundant yet often overlooked component. Our research focused on the impact of ginseng fibrous root biomass (GFR) on soil fungi filtration. We explored how GFR affects fungal populations in soils and in vitro, identifying a significant shift towards biomass-decomposing fungi, including ginseng pathogens. GFR-adding decreased 82.8% of ginseng seedling emergence. The pathogen Fusarium oxysporum increased up to 18.8-fold in abundance. The ethanol-insoluble residue of GFR was responsible for this fungal community alteration, mirroring GFR’s effects in pathogen enrichment and fungal community shaping. Certain GFR-enriched fungi prevented GFR-mediated changes in 53.9–68.4% of fungi. This research highlights a novel mechanism influencing rhizospheric microbiome evolution.