Structural and functional analysis of rhizospheric bacterial diversity in the Pranmati basin, Himalayan critical zone observatory

The study explores the structural and functional dynamics of rhizospheric bacterial diversity in the Pranmati basin, focusing on their ecological significance, diversity, and functional roles across dominant vegetation types; Rhododendron arboreum, Myrica esculenta, and Quercus leucotrichophora. The research provides critical insights into soil health and ecosystem functioning by analysing rhizospheric soil properties among the selected vegetations. The research findings reveal that Myrica esculenta exhibits the highest root colonization (95.8%) and moisture content (92.6%), while Quercus leucotrichophora shows the lowest (76.2% and 83.2%), respectively. The microbial community is predominantly composed of Proteobacteria, with 62-65% abundance across different vegetation types. Key genera such as Bacillus, Acinetobacter, and Paenibacillus are notably enriched, highlighting their significant role in phosphate solubilization and nutrient cycling. Venn diagram analysis identified 136 common bacterial species among vegetation types reflecting ecological significance in forest ecosystem. The functional metabolism, diversity indices, and core microbiome analysis underscore the distinct microbial profiles associated with different vegetation types, which are crucial for overall forest soil health. The importance of this research lies in its contribution to environmental management by providing a comprehensive understanding of how microbial communities interact with various vegetation types and influence soil health in the Pranmati basin. These insights are essential for developing targeted strategies to enhance soil fertility and manage forest ecosystems in terms of conservation and restoration efforts in sensitive ecological regions. This study is pioneer as it establishes a functional analysis of rhizospheric bacterial diversity in the Pranmati basin, offering a baseline data for future research on bacterial community structure and their functional role in Himalayan Critical Zone Observatory to the best of our knowledge.