Alpine grassland degradation alters soil fungal communities and increases the potential risk of disease

Background Alpine grassland degradation on the Tibetan Plateau has become an important ecological and environmental problem in recent years, and grassland degradation has changed the diversity of aboveground plants and the ecology of underground soil. As an important part of the soil ecosystem, soil fungi play a positive role in soil health and plant growth by decomposing organic matter, constructing mycorrhizal symbiosis system and secreting antibiotics. Results In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to compare soil fungal communities in natural, degraded and desertified grasslands, and to explore the effects of alpine grassland degradation on soil fungal communities and the adaptation mechanism of soil fungi to grassland degradation. Conclusions The study found that alpine grassland degradation altered soil fungal communities and increased the risk of potential disease.