The role of soil-borne fungi in driving the coexistence of <i>Pinus massoniana</i> and <i>Lithocarpus glaber</i> in a subtropical forest via plant–soil feedback

Abstract Aims Plant–soil feedback (PSF) is a key mechanism that can facilitate tree species coexistence and diversity. Substantial evidence suggests species-specific soil-borne pathogens around adult trees limit the performance of home (conspecific) seedlings relative to foreign (heterospecific) seedlings. However, underlying remains largely elusive. Methods Here, we conducted reciprocal transplant pot experiment using from two species, Pinus massoniana Lithocarpus glaber are dominant coexist in subtropical, evergreen, broad-leaf forest Gutianshan, Zhejiang Province eastern China. We examined how responded soils originating underneath their own versus other full-factorial design. Additionally, added fungicide (benomyl) half pots evaluate role fungi on seedling growth. Important Findings found L. grew better were collected beneath canopy P. massoniana, while growth massioniana was not affected by soil origin. The addition benomyl resulted shift towards more positive PSF effects for glaber, indicating performed than absence fungi. Our findings highlight importance pathogenic ectomycorrhizal driving PSF, indicate may promote subtropical reducing soils.