Our study on the composition and functional groups of soil fungi in phosphate mine spontaneous recovery areas has identified several fungal genera that play a crucial role in soil regeneration. This finding carries significant practical implications for the methodologies employed in mine site reclamation. We used amplicon sequencing‐based high‐throughput sequencing (HTS) and traditional fungal culturing methods in the Kunyang phosphate mining area of Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China, to comprehensively assess fungal community composition and functional diversity during spontaneous regeneration. The fungal communities in the natural recovery area differ significantly from those in the abandoned mining area, exhibiting notably higher fungal diversity indices and a more complex co‐occurrence pattern. Through HTS, 13 fungal phyla and 447 fungal genera were identified. Among them, Ascomycota is the dominant phylum, followed by Basidiomycota , and Mortierella was the primary genus. All cultured fungi belong to Ascomycota , comprising 16 genera, among which Purpureocillium and Penicillium are predominant. The majority of cultured fungi belong to pathogenic and saprophytic groups, while Mortierella is the only potential symbiotic genus. Notably, six fungal genera were identified exclusively through culturable approaches: Aureobasidium , Cladosporium , Cytospora , Discohainesia , Neopyrenochaeta , and Saccharomyces . These genera play a crucial role in soil regeneration, and their identification is a significant step toward understanding their functional characteristics. The results indicate that rhizosphere fungal communities vary significantly under distinct restoration strategies. This underscores the importance of considering regional specificity, such as local climate and soil conditions, when harnessing fungi for vegetation rehabilitation. The synergistic application of high‐throughput sequencing alongside culturable methods is not only beneficial but also crucial for the efficient screening and utilization of functional fungi. This integration reassures professionals in the field about the effectiveness and reliability of their research methods, thereby enhancing their confidence in the outcomes.
Peng et al. (Sun,) studied this question.