Transcriptome-guided analysis of dynamic endophytic microbial diversity in Panax notoginseng under spectral light variations

Panax notoginseng , a medicinal herb native to Asia’s tropical regions, hosts a diverse community of endophytic microorganisms within its roots, stems, and leaves. Although previous research has explored the interactions between P. notoginseng and its microbiota, the ecological functions and adaptive roles of these microbes under varying environmental conditions are not well understood. In our study, we used light-responsive transcriptomic analysis to characterize the endophytic microbiota, identifying over 30,000 microbial transcripts from 5,157 species. Differential expression profiling, PCR validation, and gene ontology enrichment revealed that these microbial communities are involved in critical host-microbe interactions. Specifically, our findings suggest that light-quality shifts modulate endophytic pathways related to abscisic acid signaling and glycan/lipid metabolism, potentially fortifying the host’s stress resilience. These results underscore the dynamic photoregulatory roles of endophytes in P. notoginseng , offering novel insights into microbiome-based strategies for the health management and conservation of medicinal plants in tropical ecosystems.