Geographic transplantation promotes the growth of Atractylodes macrocephala by restructuring the rhizosphere microbial community

This study systematically elucidated the microecological mechanisms underlying Atractylodes macrocephala geoherbalism via integrated transplantation experiments across China's four major producing regions. Data showed that soil from Pan'an significantly enhanced the accumulation of bioactive compounds in A . macrocephala sourced from Bozhou. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that geographic transplantation significantly restructured the rhizosphere microbial community and markedly increased its α-diversity. Functional metabolic analysis indicated that transplantation to Pan'an regulated various pathways and enhanced secondary metabolism in the rhizosphere microbiome. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed 11 upregulated keystone genera that potentially promoted secondary metabolism in A . macrocephala , and were positively correlated with root growth and bioactive compound accumulation. These results demonstrate that direct soil nutrient supply, microbiome-mediated C/N metabolism remodeling, and resource reallocation collectively drive A . macrocephala geo-authenticity. It will lay the groundwork for the use of microbiome biofertilizers and the cross-regional eco-cultivation of geo-authentic herbs.