Effects of different cultivation methods on the rhizosphere microbial community and secondary metabolites of Houttuynia cordata Thunb.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of three distinct cultivation methods on the plant-soil system of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. specifically focusing on how they shape the rhizosphere microbial community and influence the accumulation of it is phenolic compounds. This study employed high-throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rDNA and fungal ITS rDNA to assess the impact of three cultivation methods including in situ cultivation (ISC), indoor cultivation (IC), and tissue culture (TC) on the diversity and community structure of H. cordata rhizosphere soil microbes. Additionally, we explored the environmental drivers of phenotypic variations in secondary metabolite composition. Soil pH, urease (URA), total potassium (TK), and total nitrogen (TN) were significantly correlated with the accumulation of quercitrin, kaempferol-3-O-glucorhamnoside, isoquercitrin, and chlorogenic acid in H. cordata . Moreover, these environmental factors significantly influenced the rhizosphere microbial taxa Saitozyma , Lysobacter , Gemmata , and Penicillium . IC presents a sustainable approach for H. cordata cultivation, enhancing rhizosphere soil fertility and health. Furthermore, pH, URA, TK, and TN serve as key environmental drivers of secondary metabolite variation. These findings provide a foundation for establishing quality evaluation standards for H. cordata ensuring stable pharmacological efficacy, and facilitating further functional applications.