In recent years, microbiome and metabolomics have attracted much attention. However, little is known about which root microbiota can impact the synthesis of alkaloids in Aconitum vilmorinianum, a famous Chinese herb with alkaloidal activity in southwestern China. 

In a study published in BMC Microbiology, researchers from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences examined the alkaloidal metabolome and the composition of root microbiota in A. vilmorinianum from two different sites in southwestern China, and explored potential root microbiota that can affect the synthesis of alkaloids in A. vilmorinianum. 

Using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technology and high-throughput sequencing, the researchers examined the alkaloidal metabolome, bacterial microbiota, and fungal microbiota in A. vilmorinianum in Luquan and Weixi, Yunnan. 

Metabolome data indicated that there were evident changes in the alkaloidal metabolome of the samples between Luquan and Weixi. Microbiota analysis also showed that A. vilmorinianum root recruited distinct bacterial and fungal microbiota, and both bacterial and fungal microbiota probably performed diverse functions in the host's roots. 

Through further analysis, they found that 137 bacteria and 17 fungi were associated with differential metabolites, and there were different bacterial and fungal biomarkers in the two samples. They selected 10 bacterial and 6 fungal potential microbiota causing the differences in the samples.  

"The results and methods in this study can provide relevant strategies for the research and application of A. vilmorinianum and other medicinal plants," said XU Peng of XTBG.