Desert Species Research Articles

Predicting suitable habitats of parasitic desert species based on Biomod2 ensemble model: Cynomorium songaricum rupr and its host plants as an example

BackgroundAs a species of considerable medicinal, ecological, and economic significance, the protection of C. songaricum and its host plants is of paramount importance. Biodiversity patterns and species distribution are profoundly influenced by climate change. Understanding the adaptive mechanisms of organisms in response to these changes is essential for effective species conservation. However, there is currently limited information available on simulating habitat suitability and assessing key environmental factors associated with parasite species using niche models.MethodsThis study utilized environmental and species distribution data to analyze the shifts in the geographic range of C. songaricum and its host plants under current and projected future climate scenarios using the Biomod2 platform, which integrates multiple individual models into an ensemble framework. Additionally, the study quantified the environmental variables influencing the observed distribution patterns.ResultsThe potential geographical distribution and overlapping areas of C. songaricum and its host plants are primarily concentrated in Asia and North America. Under all four scenarios within the two timeframes (2041–2060 and 2061–2080), the overall suitable habitat areas for C. songaricum, Nitraria tangutorum Bobr., N. sphaerocarpa Maxim., and Peganum multisectum (Maxim.) Bobrov are expected to decrease compared with current climatic conditions. Conversely, the total area of suitable habitat for Kalidium foliatum (Pall.) Moq., Nitraria sibirica Pall., and Zygophyllum xanthoxylum (Bunge) Maxim. is predicted to increase. All species except K. foliatum will experience greater reductions between 2041 and 2060 than between 2061 and 2080 under more severe climate change scenarios. There is significant ecological niche overlap among C. songaricum, N. sphaerocarpa, N. tangutorum, and P. multisectum. Key factors influencing the future distribution of C. songaricum include the mean ultraviolet-B light of the lowest month, altitude, and annual mean temperature.ConclusionA comprehensive analysis demonstrated that the accuracy of predictions could be significantly enhanced and the distributional error for individual species could be minimized by employing the Biomod2 ensemble model to simulate the suitable habitats of parasitic species. The findings of this study can significantly inform both the management of C. songaricum plantations and the conservation of C. songaricum and its host plants.

Leaf characteristics and morphophysiological features of selected vascular plants in goltsy deserts of the Khibiny Mountains (Kola Peninsula)

The stability of biota in the extreme conditions of the goltsy deserts during ongoing climate change is determined by the adaptive characteristics of individual species. This study aimed to assess the characteristics of vascular plants (Salix polaris, Salix hastata, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Carex bigelowii, and Luzula arcuata) to the conditions of existence in the Khibiny goltsy deserts. The assessment was based on the morphological and anatomical leaf structures, pigment content and the intensity of photosynthesis. Biomorphological adaptations of high-altitude plants include miniaturization, plagiotropy, and compactization. The leaves of the studied plant species in the goltsy deserts exhibit features characteristic of mesophytes and xerophytes. For deciduous shrubs, a dorsoventral leaf structure with a high palisade coefficient was observed. For herbaceous perennials, a homogeneous type of mesophyll structure with a uniform distribution of chloroplasts and a thick cuticle was observed. The chlorophyll and carotenoid content ranges were comparable to those of the same species in the Khibiny mountain tundra belt and the Arctic tundra of Western Svalbard, indicating genetic determinism in the chlorophyll content of these species. The highest values of photosynthetic activity were found in graminoids (Carex bigelowii and Luzula arcuata) and Salix polaris. The characteristics of these species provide greater stability in the extreme conditions of the goltsy deserts and under climate change. Saxifraga oppositifolia exhibited the lowest values of photosynthetic activity.

Effects of conspecific and congeneric soils and litters on the nodulation and growth of non-native invasive and native Prosopis species in arid deserts

Effects of conspecific and congeneric soils and litters on the nodulation and growth of non-native invasive and native Prosopis species in arid deserts

Melatonin modulated GPX5 and PTGDS expression in Bactrian camel epididymis mainly via receptor MT1.

Melatonin (Mel), an important mediator of photoperiodic annual rhythm regulation and seasonal reproduction in animals, directly modulates the expression of specific genes in the epididymis and protects sperm from oxidative damage. Bactrian camel is a dominant species in desert and semi-desert areas, exhibiting the unique reproductive regulation patterns. However, the underlying regulation mechanism of Mel on Bactrian camel is still unclear. This study isolated the epididymal caput epithelial cells of Bactrian camels and investigated the expression of specific genes involving sperm protection after Mel treatment and overexpression / knockdown of Mel receptor MT1/MT2 using qPCR, ELISA, and western blotting assay. The results showed that MT1, MT2, clock genes cryptochrome 1/2 (Cry1/Cry2) were all positively expressed in the epididymal lumen epithelial cells, peritubular myoid cells, and luminal spermatozoa. Intriguingly, Mel treatment activated receptor MT1 in epididymal caput epithelial cells, indicating that Mel treatment regulated genes expression mainly via MT1-dependent manner. Mel treatment or overexpression of MT1 both increased secretion of glutathione peroxidase 5 (GPX5) and prostaglandin D2 synthase (PTGDS), and MT1 silencing induced downregulation of GPX5 and PTGDS expression, indicating that the expression of GPX5 and PTGDS were regulated by Mel-MT1. Overexpression of MT1 or MT2 promoted Cry2 expression, and overexpression of Cry2 also activated the MT1/MT2 expression by feedback regulation. Finally, the double luciferase reports assay showed that the activation of MT1 by Cry2 occurred during transcription. These results help to understand the regulatory effect of Mel on the epididymis in Bactrian camels.

The relationship between the presence of people, fire patterns and persistence of two threatened species in the Great Sandy Desert

The relationship between the presence of people, fire patterns and persistence of two threatened species in the Great Sandy Desert

Semiannual dormancy cycling results in two seedling cohorts of annual species in the cold desert of Central Asia

Abstract Our aim was to quantify the life‐history strategies of the cold desert annual species Alyssum linifolium and Tetracme quadricornis (Brassicaceae), with particular emphasis on the seed stage. Freshly matured seeds were tested for germination over a range of alternating temperature regimes in light and in dark, and the effects of seed coat scarification, cold stratification, dry after‐ripening and GA3 on dormancy‐break and germination were determined. Seeds were buried in the field at 0 (surface), 2 and 5 cm and germination of exhumed seeds tested at monthly intervals for 2 years. Seedling emergence of both species was monitored in the cold desert, and survival to maturity of plants from autumn‐ and spring‐germinated cohorts was determined. Most fresh seeds were dormant, and dormancy was broken by all four treatments tested. In the early stages of dormancy‐break, seeds germinated to low percentages over the range of temperatures, and with additional dormancy‐break germination percentages increased. Thus, seeds have Type 6 non‐deep physiological dormancy. In the buried seed study, dormancy‐break occurred in summer (June–August), and germination peaked in late summer. By late autumn (November), all non‐germinated seeds had re‐entered dormancy. During snowmelt in late winter (February–March), some dormancy‐break occurred, and low percentages of seeds of both species germinated. In the field, seeds of both species germinate in autumn and in spring, with more seeds of A. linifolium germinating in autumn than in spring and more seeds of T. quadricornis germinating in spring than in autumn. A portion of plants from both seedling cohorts of both species survived to maturity (set seeds) with more spring‐ than autumn‐germinating plants doing so for both species. Thus, both species behave as facultative winter annuals. Synthesis. Seeds of A. linifolium and T. quadricornis have two dormancy cycles per year. In one cycle, dormancy is broken via warm temperatures in summer and in the other one via cold stratification in late winter. Semiannual dormancy cycling results in two germination cohorts in 1 year, and it may be a bet‐hedging strategy in the rainfall‐unpredictable cold desert environment.

Snowfall Change Had Different Effects on Litter Decomposition for Two Typical Desert Species in Different Periods

In desert ecosystems, litter decomposition is the primary source of soil nutrients and is strongly affected by extreme climate events, which may influence desert plant survival and species diversity. To date, the effects of snowfall changes on litter decomposition in desert species remain poorly understood. Here, a snowfall manipulation experiment was conducted in Northwest China that included snowfall addition and removal treatments, as well as a natural snowfall control. Compared to the control, snowfall addition increased the amount of litter mass lost for Salsola passerina and Reaumuria soongarica during the snow-covered period by 21.54% and 21.8%, respectively. In contrast, snowfall addition effects differed between species during the snow-free period. More carbon was released from the S. passerina litter in the snowfall addition treatment during the snow-free period. Similarly, during the snow-covered period, more carbon and nitrogen were released from the R. soongorica litter in the snowfall addition treatment. Overall, the proportion of litter mass lost (from the annual total) increased with snowfall addition in the snow-covered period but was reduced with snowfall addition in the snow-free period. In the snow-covered period, the snowfall addition treatment affected litter mass loss to the same extent in both species but impacted S. passerina more strongly than R. soongorica in the snow-free period due to differences in soil urease activity. Changes in snowfall, therefore, significantly influenced litter decomposition in both desert species, but these effects differed between the snow-covered and snow-free period, particularly for litter with a higher C:N ratio.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization defines root ecological strategies in an extreme arid environment.

The symbiosis between mycorrhizae fungi and plant roots is essential for plant establishment in nearly all terrestrial ecosystems. However, the role of mycorrhizal colonization (colM) in shaping root ecological strategies remains poorly understood. Emerging research identifies colM as a key trait influencing the multidimensional covariation of root traits within the Root Economic Space (RES), where a 'collaboration gradient' is proposed. At one end of this gradient, species with larger root diameters (RD) rely on colM for resource acquisition through an 'outsourcing' strategy, while at the other end, species with finer roots and greater exploration capacity employ a 'do it yourself' strategy to acquire resources independently. Although the RES framework has improved our understanding of root strategies, the relationship between colM and root traits in desert ecosystems remains underexplored, particularly in hyper-arid environments, where limited resources can constrain both plant and mycorrhizal survival. In this study, we examine the root ecological strategies of 32 dominant shrub species in Chile's Coastal Atacama Desert, focusing on the link between specific root traits and colM. We found that larger RD correlated with higher levels of colM, supporting the 'outsourcing' strategy within the 'collaboration gradient' hypothesis of the RES. Additionally, RD and colM emerged as playing key roles in defining both dimensions of root ecological strategies. Moreover, we identified colM as a central hub trait in the root phenotypic network, underscoring its role in survival strategies under hyper-arid conditions. These findings emphasize the critical importance of colM in modulating plant ecological strategies and highlight the need to further investigate how AM enhances root lifespan and optimizes resource uptake in extreme environments.

Habitat suitability and areal dynamics of rare desert species of myxomycetes of the genus Didymium under global climate change in Asia

Habitat suitability and areal dynamics of rare desert species of myxomycetes of the genus Didymium under global climate change in Asia

Desert species: seed germination, ecological achievement, and land area protection

This study investigates the effects of seasonal variations on seed germination, dormancy, and ecological strategies in desert-adapted grasses and halophytes. Using species such as Chloria virgata, Coelachyrum brevifolium, Cenchrus ciliaris, Pennisetum divisum, Panicum turgidum, Seidlitzia rosmarinus, and Halothamnus iraqensis, the research evaluates germination parameters under varying temperature regimes, light conditions, and seed bank types. Results revealed that seeds matured in summer exhibited higher mass, synchrony, and germination rates than winter-matured seeds, which displayed greater dormancy. Physical barriers like winged perianths significantly reduced germination, with de-winged seeds showing a marked improvement. Aerial seed banks demonstrated higher germination rates than soil seed banks, emphasizing their role in maintaining seed viability and supporting population dynamics under fluctuating conditions. Photoblastic responses varied, with species like C. ciliaris showing positive photoblasticity, while others displayed neutral or negative responses. These findings underscore the adaptive mechanisms desert plants employ to optimize germination timing, enhance survival, and support ecological restoration. The research highlights practical implications for rangeland rehabilitation, emphasizing the importance of understanding seed dormancy and germination dynamics in arid ecosystems.

Making dew in the Atacama Desert: a paradigmatic case of plant water uptake water from an unsaturated atmosphere fails a test.

Nolana mollis is a dominant plant species in the hyperarid Atacama Desert. A previous hypothesis states that N. mollis owes its success to the condensation of atmospheric water from undersaturated air onto its leaf surfaces by exuded salts, and absorption of this water by its leaves, or by shallow roots following drip onto the soil surface; living roots of N. mollis were suggested to only exist near the soil surface. We conducted a field experiment with three treatments to establish the source of N. mollis's water: control, root cutting to block uptake of all soil moisture, and plastic skirting at the soil surface to block leaf drip of atmospheric water. Xylem tensions monotonically increased after root cutting until the plants wilted irreversibly, diverging clearly from the skirted and control treatments showing diurnal patterns of increasing tension in the day followed by recovery overnight. Hydration in N. mollis requires access to deep soil water, motivating an alternative hypothesis: imperfect salt exclusion at the root surface and salt exudation by the leaf results in less root fouling and lower xylem tensions, while during the day evaporation of the surface brine, condensed overnight, increases the water use efficiency of carbon gain.

Difference in summer heatwave-induced damage between desert native and urban greening plants in an arid desert region.

Summer heatwaves have caused a distinct mortality between urban greening and native plants. However, there are insufficient studies revealing the underlying mechanisms. We hypothesized that differentiation in hydraulic traits and their integration cause the varied heatwave-induced damages between the two plant types. To prove it, three desert native species and five urban greening species were selected as the experimental objects. Then, the number of damaged individuals caused by summer heatwaves were investigated based on the 100 individuals for each species. The hydraulic traits (including hydraulic transport, photosynthetic and leaf traits) of 3-5 mature individuals were measured for each species. The comparative analysis (independent sample t test and one-way ANOVA) and the collaborative analysis (Pearson correlation and network analysis) were used to reveal the differences in heatwave-induced damage, hydraulic traits and their integration between urban greening and native plants. Our results showed that the heatwave-induced damage to urban greening plants was larger than that to native species. Water potentials of leaf and branch in pre-dawn and midday, P50, leaf dry matter content, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance of desert native species were significantly lower than those of urban greening plants (P < 0.05), while twig specific hydraulic conductivity, Huber value, wood density, intrinsic water use efficiency and the specific leaf area showed opposite patterns (P < 0.05). Trait integration of desert native species (0.63) was much higher than greening plants (0.24). Our results indicate that artificial urban greening plants are more susceptible to drought stress caused by heatwaves than native desert species. In the context of global climate change, in order to maintain the stability and function of urban ecosystems in extreme climate, the screening of greening plants should start from the perspective of hydraulics and trait integration, and more native species with strong drought adaptability should be planted.

Habitat Suitability and Areal Dynamics of Rare Desert Species of Myxomycetes of the Genus Didymium under Global Climate Change in Asia

Habitat Suitability and Areal Dynamics of Rare Desert Species of Myxomycetes of the Genus Didymium under Global Climate Change in Asia

Root architecture characteristics of four dominant annual herbs in Tengger Desert, China.

To investigate the adaptability of annual herbaceous species in deserts, we collected root samples of four common annual herbaceous plants in the sand-fixing vegetation area on the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert, namely Agriophyllum squarrosum, Stilpnolepis centiflora, Corispermum hyssopifolium, and Grubovia dasyphylla, through the traditional excavation approach. Based on the quantification of root morphology indicators, we analyzed root characteristics using geometric topology and fractal theory, and compared the diversity of root characteristics and the differences in adaptation mechanisms among the four species. The results showed that root-shoot ratio and root depth-width ratio of the four species followed an order of A. squarrosum > S. centiflora > C. hyssopifolium > G. dasyphylla. The specific root length and specific surface area followed an order of A. squarrosum < S. centiflora < C. hyssopifolium < G. dasyphylla. The root topology index TI and the modified topology indices qa and qb exhibited the same trend, with an order of A. squarrosum > S. centiflora > C. hyssopifolium > G. dasyphylla. The root fractal dimensions of A. squarrosum, S. centiflora, C. hyssopifolium, and G. dasyphylla were 1.215, 1.278, 1.387 and 1.631, and the root fractal abundances were 3.528, 3.248, 2.479 and 2.451, respectively. A. squarrosum and S. centiflora adopted a high growth resource strategy, featuring simple root structure, tending towards the fish-tail-shaped branching structure, and possessing strong abilities of vertical resource acquisition and spatial expansion, while C. hyssopifolium and G. dasyphylla adopted a high-quality resource strategy, having more complex root structure, with forked branching and higher resource utilization efficiency.

Effects of the Radicle Sheath on the Rhizosphere Microbial Community Structure of Seedlings in Early Spring Desert Species Leontice incerta

Most research on plant–microbe interactions emphasize the effects of micronutrients on the rhizosphere microbial community structure. However, the influence of seed structures, particularly the radicle sheath, on microbial diversity at the seedling root tips under varying temperatures and humidity has been less explored. This study conducted controlled indoor experiments in the northern desert of Xinjiang to assess the radicle sheath’s impact on microbial community composition, diversity, and function. The results indicated no significant changes in the Chao1 index for bacteria and fungi, but notable differences were observed in the Shannon and Simpson indices (p &lt; 0.05). Under drought conditions, the radicle sheath significantly reduced bacterial infections without affecting fungi. Genus-level analysis showed an increased abundance of specific dominant bacterial groups when the radicle sheath was retained. NMDS analysis confirmed its significant effect on both bacterial and fungal community structures. LEfSe analysis identified 34 bacterial and 15 fungal biomarkers, highlighting the treatment’s impacts on microbial taxonomic composition. Functional predictions using PICRUSt 2 revealed that the radicle sheath facilitated the conversion of CH4 to CH3OH and various nitrogen cycle processes under drought. Overall, the radicle sheath plays a crucial role in maintaining rhizosphere microbial community stability and enhancing the functions of both bacteria and fungi under drought conditions.

Through a collapse to restoration: the non-stationary dynamics of the rodent community in a new cycle of desertification in Kalmykia

The grazing ecosystems of Kalmykia are extremely dynamic, this being associated with the high variability of grazing pressure in the region: a drastic reduction in the number of livestock in the 1990’s led to the restoration of pastures and the transition of their functioning from the “desert” to the “steppe” regime. Since the late 2000’s, new desertification processes have been gaining momentum, these being caused by increased grazing pressure and droughts. The vegetation cover of pastures quite quickly began to respond to the increase in livestock numbers by reducing the projective cover, while the species composition of plants sharply changed to “desert” only a few years later. Against the background of increasing desertification, the rodent community first collapsed and then recovered. Apparently, the collapse is a belated reaction to the steppefication of pastures that preceded desertification, this leading to a reduced number of desert species and an impoverished community, thereby slowing down its revival during a new cycle of desertification. Thus, both vegetation cover and rodent community demonstrated non-stationary dynamics with changing the regimes and a delayed response (inertia) in response to landscape desertification.

How to Cope With Stress in the Desert-The Date Palm Approach.

Increasing desertification constitutes a global environmental problem, mainly driven by climate change and inappropriate land-use that limits agriculture, forestry and human colonization. The selection of suitable plant species to mitigate desertification is particularly challenging, as it usually requires simultaneous counteraction against a whole set of unfavourable environmental conditions, including heat, drought, high tropospheric ozone and salinity. It therefore seems useful to identify the survival strategies of plants native in desert environments. Date palm constitutes a plant species native in desert environments and cultivated worldwide in arid regions that have been studied intensively for stress defence during the last decade. The present review summarizes the current state of biochemical stress defence mechanisms including avoidance, osmotic and metabolic adjustments and reactive oxygen species scavenging, addresses whole-plant regulations and trade-off between stress compensation/defence and growth of date palms. The review advances our knowledge about how this typical desert species copes with both individual and multiple environmental stresses at the cellular to the whole-plant level, and identifies areas of future research required to fully understand the strategies of this plant species to survive in the desert, thereby contributing to efforts for the mitigation of climate change and desertification.

Growing-Season Precipitation Is a Key Driver of Plant Leaf Area to Sapwood Area Ratio at the Global Scale.

Leaf area to sapwood area ratio (AL/AS) influences carbon sequestration, community composition, and ecosystem functioning in terrestrial vegetation and is closely related to leaf economics and hydraulics. However, critical predictors of AL/AS are not well understood. We compiled an AL/AS data set with 1612 species-site combinations (1137 species from 285 sites worldwide) from our field experiments and published literature. We found the global mean AL/AS to be 0.63 m2 cm-2, with its variation largely driven by growing-season precipitation (Pgs), which accounted for 18% of the variation in AL/AS. Species in tropical rainforests exhibited the highest AL/AS (0.82 m2 cm-2), whereas desert species showed the lowest AL/AS (0.16 m2 cm-2). Soil factors such as soil nitrogen and soil organic carbon exhibited positive effects on AL/AS, whereas soil pH was negatively correlated with AL/AS. Tree density accounted for 7% of the variation in AL/AS. All biotic and abiotic predictors collectively explained up to 45% of the variation in AL/AS. Additionally, AL/AS was positively correlated to the net primary productivity (NPP) of the ecosystem. Our study provides insights into the driving factors of AL/AS at the global scale and highlights the importance of AL/AS in ecosystem productivity. Given that Pgs is the most critical driver of AL/AS, alterations in global precipitation belts, particularly seasonal precipitation, may induce changes in plant leaf area on the branches.

Networking the desert plant microbiome, bacterial and fungal symbionts structure and assortativity in co-occurrence networks

In nature, microbes do not thrive in seclusion but are involved in complex interactions within- and between-microbial kingdoms. Among these, symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria are namely known to improve plant health, while providing resources to benefit other microbial members. Yet, it is not clear how these microbial symbionts interact with each other or how they impact the microbiota network architecture. We used an extensive co-occurrence network analysis, including rhizosphere and roots samples from six plant species in a natural desert in AlUla region (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and described how these symbionts were structured within the plant microbiota network. We found that the plant species was a significant driver of its microbiota composition and also of the specificity of its interactions in networks at the microbial taxa level. Despite this specificity, a motif was conserved across all networks, i.e., mycorrhizal fungi highly covaried with other mycorrhizal fungi, especially in plant roots—this pattern is known as assortativity. This structural property might reflect their ecological niche preference or their ability to opportunistically colonize roots of plant species considered non symbiotic e.g., H. salicornicum, an Amaranthaceae. Furthermore, these results are consistent with previous findings regarding the architecture of the gut microbiome network, where a high level of assortativity at the level of bacterial and fungal orders was also identified, suggesting the existence of general rules of microbiome assembly. Otherwise, the bacterial symbionts Rhizobiales and Frankiales covaried with other bacterial and fungal members, and were highly structural to the intra- and inter-kingdom networks. Our extensive co-occurrence network analysis of plant microbiota and study of symbiont assortativity, provided further evidence on the importance of bacterial and fungal symbionts in structuring the global plant microbiota network.

Fractions of soil phosphorus mediated by rhizospheric phoD‐harbouring bacteria of deep‐rooted desert species are determined by fine‐root traits

Abstract Soil phosphorus (P) availability is a crucial factor determining primary productivity in terrestrial ecosystem. Plant functional traits and microbes under P‐deficient conditions can respond positively to increase soil P bioavailability. Whether and/or how the fine‐root traits (FRTs) of deep‐rooted desert species affect the rhizosphere and bulk soil community of phoD‐harbouring bacteria and thus improve the availability of soil P, however, remains unclear. We conducted a three‐year artificial outdoor pot experiment of P supply using Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. (hereafter Alhagi) to address this gap. Fine‐root samples from 1‐ and 3‐year‐old Alhagi seedlings and samples of the rhizospheres and bulk soil were collected. High‐throughput sequencing, sequential extraction and root system scanning were used to determine soil phoD‐harbouring bacteria community, Hedley‐P fractions and the FRTs. Fine‐root surface area (RSA), specific root length, foliar Mn concentration (indicating the quantities of root carboxylates that are released) and acid phosphatase (APase) activity were significantly higher in the no‐P supply compared with the high‐P supply conditions. APase activity was significantly higher by 27%, but the foliar Mn concentration was remarkably lower by 26%, in the 3‐ than the 1‐year‐old seedlings. The rhizospheric concentrations of labile P, moderately labile P, inorganic P and organic P in the no‐P supply condition were 5%, 11%, 10% and 21% higher, respectively, in the 3‐ than the 1‐year‐old seedlings. RSA and the foliar Mn concentration were dominated root predictors for the rhizospheric phoD‐harbouring bacteria community for the 1‐year‐old seedlings, whereas fine‐root P concentration was the dominated root predictor for the rhizospheric and bulk soil phoD‐harbouring bacteria communities for the 3‐year‐old seedlings. Soil water content, as the most dominant soil factor driving the variation of phoD‐harbouring bacteria community, notably could not be ignored. FRTs were the main factors that directly and positively determined rhizospheric phoD‐harbouring bacteria community and thus influenced soil P availability, but bulk soil phoD‐harbouring bacteria community were dominated by inorganic P concentration. The importance of fine‐root morphological traits to soil P availability gradually increased as the plants grew. Overall, our results emphasize the significance of rhizospheric phoD‐harbouring bacteria determined by the effect of FRTs on the bioavailability of soil P. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.