Effects of Differentiation Plasmodiophora brassicae Physiological Races on the Rhizosphere Microbial Community Structure of Oilseed Rape

Clubroot caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae is a devastating soil-borne disease of oilseed rape, and physiological race differentiation of the pathogen greatly hinders disease control. The differential regulatory mechanisms of different P. brassicae races on the rhizosphere microecology remain unclear. This study aimed to reveal the race-specific effects of P. brassicae on the rhizosphere microenvironment, microbial community and nitrogen cycling of oilseed rape. A pot inoculation experiment was conducted with two typical races from Sichuan Province (race 4 CZ and race 2 KD), combined with soil physicochemical determination, high-throughput sequencing and functional prediction. The results showed that CZ exhibited a higher infection rate but a lower disease index than KD. Both races significantly decreased soil pH and reshaped soil nutrient profiles. Notably, CZ treatment caused a more pronounced pH decrease and was characterized by NH4+-N accumulation, whereas KD treatment was dominated by NO3−-N enrichment. Bacterial alpha diversity was increased by both races, following the order KD > CZ > CK. In contrast, fungal alpha diversity was decreased by both races, showing the pattern CK > KD > CZ. Distinct rhizosphere microbial community structures were formed under different race infections, and both races reduced the abundance of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and related functional genes. These findings indicate that distinct P. brassicae races shape race-specific rhizosphere microenvironments by differentially regulating soil acidification, nutrient availability and nitrogen-cycling functional microorganisms, thereby driving divergent pathogenic outcomes. This study is the first to reveal differential regulation of the rhizosphere microecology by distinct physiological races of P. brassicae, offering new insights for region-specific management of clubroot disease.