Metabolome-driven rhizosphere microbiome assembly determines health of Angelica sinensis against root rot (microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com)

• Shotgun metagenomics revealed steroid degradation genes enriched in healthy rhizosphere.
• Angelica sinensis root exudates rich in sterol lipids attract Streptomyces S15.
• Synbiotic application (lipids + S15) shifts microbiome and controls Fusarium rot.

"This study from Chinese institutions shows that Angelica sinensis plants secrete lipid compounds (methyl jasmonate, brassinolide) to recruit steroid-degrading Streptomyces species, which antagonize Fusarium root rot. Healthy rhizosphere soils had higher Streptomyces abundance and steroid degradation genes. Exogenous synbiotics (lipid prebiotics + Streptomyces S15) enriched beneficial bacteria and suppressed the pathogen."