Spartina alterniflora raised soil sulfide content by regulating sulfur cycle-associated bacteria in the Jiuduansha Wetland of China

The Spartina alterniflora invasion across the southeast coast in China significantly reduced vegetation diversity and generated associated ecological problems. Sulfur (S) is a vital nutrient, while sulfide phytotoxic impact of S. on soil S cycle remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate impacts microbial communities. Both field investigation lab-scale experiments were conducted, analyzing sulfate contents, properties over four seasons Jiuduansha Wetland Shanghai, China, high-throughput sequencing communities, cycle-related functional genes seed germination experiments. contents sulfide, organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) bulk invaded area higher than those native species mariqueter habitat bare mudflat soils. increased abundance Nitrospiraceae Desulfarculaceae families that Hydrogenophilaceae. relative SO42− reduction (dsrA + dsrB) was after invasion, oxidation (yedZ soxY) reduced. Seed with different sodium concentrations (Na2S) revealed phytotoxicity caused more lethal damage alterniflora. SOC TN sulfur-oxidizing genes, which led accumulation sulfide.