Selective Media Strategies for Exploring the Cabbage Fungal Microbiome

The fungal microbiome of rapa cabbage (Brassica rapa) contributes to nutrient cycling, plant health, and disease suppression, yet culture-based recovery of diverse taxa remains difficult due to medium selectivity. We evaluated seven media—half-strength R2A, R2A agar, soil extract agar (SEA), DG18 agar, Czapek-Dox agar, 10% PDA, and water agar—for isolating fungi from soil, rhizosphere, and root endosphere samples. Based on colony morphology and ITS rDNA sequencing, 93 species were recovered, with 10% PDA and water agar supporting the highest diversity. Several strains previously regarded as difficult to culture were also obtained, emphasizing the utility of selective media in fungal microbiome studies. These findings provide a basis for future investigations into the ecological roles and functional diversity of Brassica rapa-associated fungi. [This work is supported by RDA, Korea: RS-2025-02653099]