Root partitioning in tea-legume intercropping drives aroma diversification via rhizosphere microbial remodeling
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 17822636 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Yuhang Jiang (0000-0002-4532-3140, Longyan University, corresponding author), Xiaoqin Lin (Longyan University), Haibin Wang (0000-0002-4396-7487, Longyan University), H J Wang (Longyan University), Longxin Qiu (Longyan University), Libin Guo (0000-0001-7401-8033, Longyan University), Wenxiong Lin (0000-0003-0930-5145, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University), Wenjun Lin (0000-0003-3952-3100, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-27 |
| Publication date | 2026-04-06 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2168-3565 • E-ISSN: 2168-3573 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/21683565.2026.2655708 |
| OpenAlex | W7151551939 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 51 |
Legume intercropping in tea orchards improves environmental conditions but often overlooks aboveground benefits and rhizosphere effects on tea quality. Four planting patterns were compared: monoculture tea (MT) and three intercropping systems with forage soybean – unpartitioned (IT), plastic-partitioned (PPIT, blocking root interaction), and net-partitioned (NPIT, partial root interaction). IT and NPIT significantly enhanced volatile aroma diversity and concentration in fresh tea leaves, while MT and PPIT showed no notable differences, indicating root interaction drives aroma formation. Multiple linear regression linked aroma components to enzyme gene expression (CsLOX3, CsGD1, CsPD, CsTPS3), with rhizosphere-mediated aromas exhibiting stronger correlations than non-rhizosphere controls. Catechin levels were also significantly influenced by rhizosphere interactions (p < 0.05). Intercropping reshaped rhizosphere microbial communities involved in carbon/nitrogen metabolism, promoting secondary metabolite accumulation (e.g. terpenoids, fatty acid derivatives). These findings reveal that tea-legume root partitioning regulates aroma diversification via microbial remodeling and metabolic gene activation, emphasizing interspecific interactions in sustainable tea orchard design.
Aroma · Diversification (marketing strategy) · Intercropping · Rhizosphere · Zea mays · Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems · Allelopathy and phytotoxic interactions · Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
| Highly cited | No |
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